HC Deb 21 November 1917 vol 99 cc1289-90

(1) An appeal shall lie to the County Court, as defined by rules of Court, from any decisions of the registration officer refusing to place or placing any name on the register or in any part of the register, or refusing to place or placing any mark against any name in the register, and rules of Court shall be made for the purpose of determining the procedure on any such appeals and for applying and adapting thereto any enactments relating to County Courts and the procedure therein.

Mr. FISHER

I beg to move, in Subsection (1), to leave out the words "refusing to place or placing any name on the register or in any part of the register or refusing to place or placing any mark against any name in the register," and to insert the words "on any claim or objection which has been considered by him under this Act affecting the entry of any person on the electors list including the Absent Voters List or on the register."

Mr. GULLAND

Is this really the same thing, only that it is necessary to have an addition for the Absent Voters List? There will be a right of appeal on the Absent Voters List?

Mr. FISHER

That is as I understand it. It is a very small matter. The only object is to make it clear. On consideration, I think that it would be better not to put in these words here, but to move the Amendment as it is on the Paper and then to add a proviso.

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill," put, and negatived.

Question, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill," put, and negatived.

Amendment made: In place of the words left out, after the word "officer," insert the words "on any claim or objection which has been considered by him under this Act. "—[Mr. Fisher.]

Mr. FISHER

I beg to move, at the end of Sub-section (1), to insert the words " Provided that an appeal shall not lie where the claimant or objector has not availed himself of the opportunity of being heard by the registration officer on the claim or objection."

Colonel GRETTON

I do not want to obstruct, but I really think that we should not put in words at present which the Government have not considered fully. I think that this matter must be postponed, as we shall have to send the Bill to another place, and that the additional words can be inserted when the Minister in charge of the Bill has had time to consider what is really intended.

Mr. GULLAND

I rather agree with the hon. Member. It is a little difficult to follow this Amendment. It sounds as if it were intended to deprive people of the right of appeal if they have not been able to be present in the Law Court

Mr. FISHER

As my hon. Friend knows, small clarifying Amendments on these matters are sometimes put down rather suddenly, I admit, and adopted. A few minutes ago I looked into the words, and I do not think that they altogether fit in and I thought it better that they should be in another form. If my hon. Friend sees any difficulty in understanding the words now proposed or thinks that there is some deep hidden meaning which would deprive anybody of the opportunity of voting, I should not think of pressing this on the present occasion, and the Government would take the opportunity of dealing with the matter in another place. But I can assure my hon. Friend that this is no real or substantial modification of the law. It is merely clarifying the law in a way which he can very well accept. If objection is still taken to it, that objection shall be looked into in another place.

Colonel GRETTON

After the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman I am quite willing to accept the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.