§ 49. Captain ARTHUR HOPEasked the Minister of Agriculture why the Crown Lands Commissioners refused to allow a church bell to be erected and used at the new Roman Catholic Church at Mottingham, Kent, on ground purchased from them?
§ Major ELLIOTThe restriction was only imposed by the Commissioners of Crown Lands in the interests of the occupiers of neighbouring houses and was expressly agreed to before the contract for the purchase of the site was made.
§ Captain HOPEIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that another church of another denomination was erected within a quarter of a mile of this church, and that a church bell was allowed and is in operation?
§ Major ELLIOTIt may have been partly because of that that this restrictive covenant was made. The other church has been there for 40 or 50 years, I understand.
§ Mr. KNIGHTMay I ask whether in the interests of religious toleration the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will review this matter to see that no discrimination is made against a particular denomination?
§ Major ELLIOTThere is no question of any kind of any religious toleration or discrimination. It is purely that it was in the interests of the occupiers of neighbouring houses, and there is no restriction of any kind upon the use of a bell in the church for any ceremonial occasion.
§ Captain HOPEWould the right hon. and gallant Gentleman meet a deputation from the Roman Catholics of that district on the matter as there is great dissatisfaction about it?
§ Major ELLIOTI shall be glad to meet my hon. and gallant Friend and discuss the matter with him, but I cannot undertake at the present moment to receive a deputation from outside.