HC Deb 19 February 1877 vol 232 cc632-3

MOTION FOR A RETURN.

MR. JAMES

moved for a Return of all Oaths or Declarations made by the Master, Assistants, Freemen, Clerk, or other Officer, on assumption of office in each of the eighty-nine Companies mentioned in the second Report of the Municipal Commissioners of 1837. As he was about to bring forward a Motion on the subject, he did not think that the Return he now asked for would be refused.

MR. ISAAC

opposed the Motion, remarking that when the hon. Member made his statements with regard to the City companies, he should content himself by refuting them. The hon. Member might as well ask for a Return of the oaths administered to secret societies, such as Freemasons and the like.

MR. CHARLEY,

regarding the Return demanded by the hon. Member opposite (Mr. James) as being inquisitorial, should support the hon. Member for Nottingham (Mr. Isaac) in his opposition to the Motion, and press it to a division, if necessary.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

thought that some reasons should be assigned in support of the Motion before it was granted.

MR. JAMES

said, that he had before mentioned it was his intention to bring forward a Motion on the subject, and he thought it desirable that the House should be made acquainted with the oaths imposed on certain persons, who thereby became entitled to the electoral franchise. Certain oaths had been removed by the passing of the Test Acts, and there was no valid ground that such obsolete observances should be retained as accessory to any municipal rights. A Return similar to that for which he now asked was granted a few years ago. In answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham (Mr. Isaac), he might say that members of those societies he referred to did not exercise municipal privileges as was the case with the bodies mentioned in the Return.

MR. STEWART HARDY

rose to Order. The hon. Member had already spoken in moving for the Return.

MR. SPEAKER

ruled that the hon. Member was in Order.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that on looking to the terms of the Motion, ho did not see how the House could refuse this Return, which would not be opposed by Her Majesty's Government.

Motion made, and Question put, That there be laid before this House, a Return of all Oaths or Declarations made by the Master, Assistants, Freemen, Clerk, or other Officer, on assumption of office in each of the eighty-nine Companies mentioned in the Second Report of the Municipal Commissioners, 1837.''—(Mr. James.) The House divided:—Ayes 80; Noes 43: Majority 37. Return ordered, "of all Oaths or Declarations made by the Master; Assistants, Freemen, Clerk, or other Officer, on assumption of office in each of the eighty-nine Companies mentioned in the Second Report of the Municipal Commissioners, 1837."—(Mr. James.)