§ MR. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the application of the Royal British Nurses' Association for permission to omit the word "Limited," if registered under the Companies' Act, has been refused by the Board of Trade; if so, whether he will state the reasons for that refusal; and whether he will re-consider the decision?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.After careful consideration of the application to which the hon. Member refers, and also of the representations made to me in opposition to it by bodies and persons whose interest in hospital nursing is unquestionable and whose experience entitles them to speak with authority, I was unable to satisfy myself that the means which the Association proposed to adopt were either adequate to carry out its objects satisfactorily or so free from objection as to warrant me in complying with the application made to the Board of Trade. I am not aware of any grounds for re-considering the matter.
§ MR. PAULTONWill any opportunity be afforded to the Association of 801 meeting the objections raised to their application?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHCertainly.