HC Deb 17 March 1831 vol 3 cc498-9
Mr. Hunt

took that opportunity of putting a question to the noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the parish of Christ Church, Surrey, which contained a population of 10,000 or 12,000 persons. It appeared that the inhabitants of that parish, under the proposed Bill, would not have the right of voting either for the district of Lambeth or for the borough of Southwark. A deputation had waited on him on the subject, and he stated his opinion, that the omission was accidental, and that the framers of the Bill probably supposed that the inhabitants of Christ Church were in the habit of voting for the Borough, of which it was really a part. From some circumstances, however, too tedious to explain, the inhabitants of this parish had never voted for the Borough; and the question he wished to put was, whether the omission of Christ Church in the Bill, as forming part of the Lambeth district, was intentional, or merely an accidental omission?

Lord Althorp

replied, that he was not sufficiently acquainted with the circumstances to give a direct answer. The hon. member for Preston, however, must be aware that there was a clause in the Bill to enable parishes or districts to be added which had been omitted, and which were not otherwise provided for. Whether the case adverted to by the hon. Gentleman was one to which the clause would apply, he was not prepared to say; but, if the parish of Christ Church had a fair claim, no doubt that claim would be considered.