§ COLONEL HUGHESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether complaints have reached him that the practice whereby alterations of rules in Friendly Societies have to be declared before a Police Magistrate causes loss of time to officers of Friendly Societies in the Metropolis who, in the middle of the day, have to wait for hours among the frequenters of Police Courts to make a formal declaration; and whether he sees any objection to the declaration being made before any Magistrate, or before a Commissioner to administer oaths?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo complaints have been received on the subject referred to by the hon. Member. There is no law or regulation requiring a declaration to be made at a Police Court, and not before a Justice of Peace or Commissioner of Oaths, and I understand that no such requirement is ever made by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.