HC Deb 26 April 1887 vol 314 cc98-9

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)

I wish to say two or three words in support of a clause which I desire to add to the Bill. I have drawn up the provision with the view of meeting a difficulty which I think must arise in the operation of the Bill. It has been held, in the case of soldiers who otherwise would be entitled to vote, that if they had been absent from their qualifying premises in the course of their duty, and if, in attempting to return home, they would be committing a breach of a legal obligation, that by that fact they would be disqualified and ousted from the Register. I think the same legal doctrine should apply to policemen; and as it must often be the case that they must be compelled to absent themselves, in pursuit of their legal duties, from their qualifying premises in many ways, I think that to meet the possible difficulty it would be well to insert this clause— A person otherwise entitled to be registered as a voter at Parliamentary elections in respect of the occupation of a dwelling-house shall be deemed an inhabitant occupier thereof as tenant, notwithstanding his temporary absence there from and in the execution of duty as a police officer during a part of the qualifying period not exceeding four months. I beg to move the insertion of that clause in page 1, after line 11.

New Clause (Registration in ease of temporary absence of police officer on duty,)—(Mr. Whitmore,)—brought up, and read the first time.

Clause read a second time, and added to the Bill.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Monday next, and to be printed. [Bill 240.]

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