HC Deb 12 March 1880 vol 251 cc912-4
GENERAL SHUTE (for Mr. ASHBURY)

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, having regard to the expense incurred in Brighton and elsewhere in connection with the contemplated Easter Monday Review, Her Majesty's Government can modify any existing regulations in such way as to allow the proposed review to take place?

COLONEL STANLEY

I regret, Sir, to say I do not see my way to recommend any modification of the existing Regulations. The Regulations provide, as I stated the other day, that no assembly of Volunteers is to take place between the issue of a Writ for the election of a Member of Parliament and the nomination or election day, in any borough or county where their headquarters may be. Apart from the difficulties existing at Brighton, there would unquestionably be great inconvenience in allowing the Regulations to be rescinded in other places where Volunteers would have to assemble. I am very conscious of, and feel deeply for, the disappointment which may be occasioned to those at Brighton and elsewhere concerned in this Review; and, as I have before said, I hope the authorities will be able, in the event of the Review taking place at Whitsuntide, to afford similar facilities to those which they were prepared to grant at Easter. I do not see my way to recommend what has been proposed by some persons—namely, that a short Act of Parliament should be passed to enable the Review to take place. I do not think it would be right, nor do I think it would be practicable, if it were proposed. I am not prepared to waive the Regulations under Section 16, which I have power to do, or to alter them for this particular occasion; nor do I think it would be right or wise to do so. At the same time, I feel very much for the expense to which persons have been put locally and otherwise. If any facilities can be given by the authorities after Easter, at Whitsuntide, or at some other time, I shall be ready to grant them.

GENERAL SHUTE

As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has spoken of postponing the Review, will he state what arrangements he would propose to make in the event of its being held at Whitsuntide?

COLONEL STANLEY

Well, Sir, I can only state what my present opinion may be as to arrangements which might be made; but, of course, it must rest with the authorities when the time comes to deal with the question. I would say that if I should have to deal with the matter I should endeavour to see what difficulties there were in the way—what difficulties there would be at Whitsuntide which had not existed at an earlier period; and I should endeavour, by local inquiry or otherwise, to see how those difficulties could be overcome. By local arrangement some compromise might be arrived at if there were difficulties as to cost and so forth; but if that were regarded as impracticable, I should endeavour to give such facilities as the Government could afford in connection with Brighton or elsewhere, and to make the best arrangements of which the circumstances of the moment would admit.