HC Deb 07 May 1885 vol 297 cc1829-31
MR. W. H. SMITH

asked Mr. Attorney General, If his attention has been drawn to the form of a Return under the provisions of "The Representation of the People Act, 1884," which has been issued by the Parochial Authorities of the Metropolis, requiring Returns to be made, as follows, under a penalty of forty shillings: —

Form of Return.

1.

Property in respect of which the Person making the Return is rated [or liable to be rated, or occupied].

2.

Situation or description of every Dwelling House, as defined by the Representation of the People Acts, forming part of the property in the first column.

3.

Surname and other name of every Man who was, on the 15th day of July last, and has been up to the date of the Return, an inhabitant occupier of any Dwelling House in the second column.

whether he has considered how far it is likely that an ordinary ratepayer or occupier is in possession of sufficient information as to the meaning of the Legislature to enable him to fill up the first column; whether there is any clear and precise definition of a Dwelling House in the Representation of the People Acts which would enable him to fill up the second column; and. if there is, whether the ratepayer or occupier is to have recourse to the Acts for that definition, or whether the Parochial Authorities should not themselves supply it to him under some authoritative and legal definition; and, whether some guidance should not also be furnished to the person having to make the Return in the third column as to who is an "inhabitant occupier," and as to the circumstances and conditions under which the "inhabitant occupier of any Dwelling House" is entitled under that description to be entered upon the Return?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

, in reply, said, he had seen a form of Return in the Representation of the People Act of last year, which had been issued by the Parochial Authorities to the ratepayers of the Metropolis. This form was enjoined by the Act. When it was being discussed in the House the view of the Government was to leave the drawing up of the form to the authorities; but the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire (Mr. Stanhope) expressed a strong wish that a form should be placed in the Schedule, and after consideration this form was adopted and inserted. He admitted the difficulty ratepayers would experience in understanding the form; but he had that morning received from the Vestry Clerk of St. Marylebone an instruction which had been issued along with the form, and which appeared to make the matter much more clear. He (the Attorney General) would suggest that in the Registration Bill now before the House a provision might be inserted in the Schedule enjoining upon the overseers the issue of a similar instruction. He would confer with the right hon. Gentleman opposite on the question.

MR. HEALY

expressed the hope that the Attorney General would confer with the Irish Attorney General, in order that Ireland might participate in any benefit from the conference.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

intimated his readiness to do so.