§ 81. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board what action he proposes to take in regard to the conduct of the local tribunal for the Petersfield Rural District Council who on 6th March refused to allow a claimant on the ground of conscientious objection to make a statement of his objections or to call witnesses, but rejected the claim on the strength of a letter which had been sent to the tribunal by a stranger living more than 200 miles away; and will he say if such conduct on the part of the tribunal is carrying out the instruction which says that conscientious objectors should be made to feel that their claims will receive fair consideration?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI have communicated with the local tribunal in this case. The statement that the applicant was not allowed to call witnesses is not admitted 2070 by the tribunal. The letter referred to was, as I understand, not read till the applicant had consented to this being done. An appeal has been made and is now pending.
§ 82. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board what action he proposes to take upon the conduct of Councillor Hopwood, a member of the Shaw, near Oldham, local tribunal, who told an applicant for an exemption on the ground of conscientious objection, on 7th March, that he was exploiting God to save his own skin, that he was a deliberate and rank blasphemer, a coward and a cad, and nothing but a shivering mass of unwholesome fat; and if he will ask the council who appointed this member of the tribunal to exercise their powers under the instructions to dismiss a man who has shown himself incompetent for the duties of his office?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe question of revoking the appointment of any member of a local tribunal rests with the local authority appointing it, and I think I can safely leave this case in their hands.
§ 83. Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Local Government Board what action he proposes to take upon the conduct of the Oxford local tribunal who on 6th March refused the claim for exemption on conscientious objection by a theological student named Runacres, the ground of refusal being a letter produced by the military representative from some person whose identity he refused to disclose to the claimant; and will he call the attention of the Oxford tribunal to that part of the instructions which says that conscientious objectors should be made to feel that their case is being considered by a judicial and fair-minded body?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI have no information on the subject, and I cannot undertake to interfere in the matter.