§ 43. Colonel HICKMANasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the proposition statement of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Board of Erin) Friendly Society, having some 130,000 members, in which a pledge is exacted and signed by any person wishing to join this society as an approved society for the purposes of the National Insurance Act, to the effect that he is prepared to use his influence on all occasions in opposition to the presentation of addresses of either welcome or loyalty to any English monarch or representatives of the English garrison until all religious disabilities shall be removed and the legislative independence of Ireland bestowed; and does he propose that a society exacting such a pledge from its members should continue to be an approved society under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, Sir. No such pledge is exacted in case of application for membership of any approved society or separate section conducting business under the National Insurance Act. The society named is not itself an approved society, and benefits, connection with its own objects and benefits, which are quite independent of those of the Act, it may have issued the "proposition statement" to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. A separate section has been formed in connection with this society and approved for conducting business under the Act; but its funds and objects and its proposal form does not require the applicant to take any such pledge as that referred to or to join the society itself.
§ Colonel HICKMANSeeing that I sent to the Prime Minister copies in which these words were actually printed, and which each of these people joining the society under the Insurance Act is obliged to sign, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that these are proper words to employ?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is mixing up two separate matters. I know nothing whatever about the proposal form in question, but that section of the association which becomes an approved society under the Insurance Act has nothing whatever to do with any such proposal.
§ Mr. FARRELLInasmuch as I am a member of the society, I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that no such declaration is ever written or spoken by any member. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order."]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to put in a preamble.
§ Mr. FARRELLI wish to ask, Sir, having regard to the fact that the hon. Member for West Belfast read the only declaration made in connection with this society, whether it is right that an insinuation of this kind should be put upon the Paper?
§ Mr. FLAVINMay I ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman is entitled to use his position as a Member of this House to make a false statement which has already been repudiated by the hon. Member for West Belfast?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not a false one. The hon. Member sent a copy of the proposition to the Prime Minister, and now it appears that it does not apply to that part of the Ancient Order of Hibernians which has applied to the Insurance Commissioners to become an approved society under the Insurance Act.
§ Mr. FLAVINIt does not apply to any part. The hon. and gallant Gentleman has made a false statement.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not a statement; it is an inquiry.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIs it not the fact that the portion of the Order which wishes to become an approved society has to send its rules previously to the Insurance Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANCertainly; that is so.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIs there any statement in the approved rules along the lines stated in the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNothing whatever, as I have already stated.
§ Mr. CASSELIt is only that part of the association which seeks to become an approved society which is dealt with by the Insurance Commissioners.
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat is exactly what I said. The rules of an approved society have to be approved by the Insurance Commissioners.