§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Captain Gravener, who said he would not give certificates of exemption from vaccination, is still a magistrate; if his attention has been called to Dr. Tinker, a magistrate sitting on the Hyde bench, who declared on June 25th, 1906 a conscientious objection to give certificates of exemption from vaccination; and if he will take any steps to enforce the Law.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)I am informed that Captain Gravener stated that he would not sit when application for certificates of exemption were under consideration. When the matter was first brought to my notice I sent the Papers to the Lord Chancellor, and there is no further action for me to take in the matter. I have made inquiry into the case at Hyde referred to by my hon. friend, and I find that after some conversation with the applicant Dr. Tinker withdrew from the Bench and the applicant was told to come again when two other justices were present. Dr. Tinker does not refuse to carry out the law. These cases and others to which my attention is constantly being drawn illustrate the chronic friction which is caused by the present state of the law with regard to exemption certificates.