§ MR. ALFRED THOMAS (Glamorganshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case brought before the Pontypridd Police Court, in which the magistrates refused to grant the application of the Reverend William Griffiths, Ph.D., for a certificate of exemption under the Conscience Clause of the Vaccination Act, although Dr. Griffiths had tendered such evidence as entitled him to the exemption provided by the Conscience Clause of the Vaccination Act; and whether he will call upon the magistrates of the Pontypridd Police Court to furnish Dr. Griffiths with a certificate of exemption under the Conscience Clause of the Vaccination Act.
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYI am informed that it is the practice of the court in question to require some reason to be given on oath in support of a statement of conscientious objection; and that the magistrates, after hearing Dr. Griffiths, were not satisfied that he had a conscientious belief within the meaning of the Act. The question whether or not the magistrates exceeded their jurisdiction in 77 requiring the applicant to give reasons is one of law which, I am advised, might be raised and determined in a superior court. I have no power to direct the magistrates to issue a certificate of exemption.