HC Deb 07 August 1918 vol 109 cc1380-1W
Sir R. COOPER

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. Greville Smith, a member of the Heston and Isleworth Military Service Tribunal, is of enemy birth; if he will say what name was he born under and on what date did he change it; whether he is aware that his father was a sergeant-major in the German Army; when was he naturalised; and has he been summoned by the Brentford Bench to relinquish his position as a member of the Heston and Isleworth Urban District Council?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I am informed that Mr. Greville Smith is a natural-born British subject and that he changed his name from Schmidt to Smith twenty-seven years ago. His father served in the British Army and he has two sons serving with the British forces at the present time. In these circumstances the point as to the date of naturalisation does not arise. The reference in the last part of the hon. Baronet's question appears to be to certain legal proceedings in 1911, when, upon a case stated by the Brentford justices, it was decided that Mr. Smith was disqualified from membership of the district council. I think I should add, since the matter has been raised, that in those proceedings there was no question of Mr. Smith's nationality, but merely whether a mistake of law had or had not been committed, and that in giving judgment both the Brentford magistrates and the then Lord Chief Justice expressed their regret at being obliged to reach a decision adverse to him.

Sir R. COOPER

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. Heldman, a member of the Heston and Isleworth tribunal, is of enemy birth; when he was naturalised, and who appointed him to this position?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I am given to understand that Mr. Heldman is a natural-born British subject, and therefore the question as to when he was naturalised does not arise. He was one of the original members of the tribunal appointed by the urban district council of Heston and Isle-worth upon the passing of the first Military Service Act in 1916.