HC Deb 24 November 1882 vol 275 cc13-4
MR. M'LAREN

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether he has observed in the "Standard" newspaper of Tuesday last a letter signed "W. J. Richards, President of the Working Men's Constitutional Union," the writer of which "strongly advocates" the formation of Conservative Loan Societies in different parts of the United Kingdom, openly avowing that The business opportunities of such societies afford the best means of enlisting' political sympathy amongst the masses, and that Each householder should be attacked, and the truths of Conservative principles brought to the doors of every elector; whether he is aware that the Working Men's Constitutional Union is supported by wealthy persons of the Conservative party; and, whether loan societies, having for their object the "enlisting of political sympathy among the masses," are, at the present moment, lawful institutions; and, if so, whether he will bring them within the provisions of the Corrupt Practices Bill?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to the subject of this letter, which certainly is a remarkable one, by several correspondents. It is a letter from Mr. W. J. Richards, President of the Working Men's Conservative Union, in which he suggests that certain Societies, among others Loan Societies, should be formed on the ground that the business opportunities of such Societies afford the best means of enlisting political sympathy among the masses, and for bringing he me the truths of Conservative principles to the doors of every elector. [Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL: Hear, hear!] I am sorry to hear that cheer from the noble Lord, because clearly this matter is a serious matter. I may mention that formerly it was not regarded as an offence—at least it was not well understood to be an offence—to give a loan in order to influence votes; but, in 1842, the Report of the Lyme Regis Committee to this House stated that corrupt practices had for some time prevailed by the lending of money on notes of hand and other securities, and that the practice was insiduous and demoralizing, and peculiarly adapted to interfering with the free and he nest exercise of the franchise, and demanding serious attention and inquiry from the House. In consequence of that Report, and a Report by another Committee, by the Corrupt Practices Bill of 1854 it was made an act of bribery and a penal offence, involving two years' imprisonment, for any person to make a loan or promise a loan to another in order to influence his vote, and on proof of agency, any Member obtaining the benefit of such a proceeding would lose his seat, in consequence of the Statute having been broken. It seems to me that the law was quite sufficient to meet any such case as the hon. Gentleman suggested, and it is not necessary to deal with it by legislation. But now that the matter has been made public, and the question brought to the knowledge of influential Members of the Conservative Party, I trust that their influence will be used to deprecate such a suggestion being carried into effect.

MR. GORST

The hon. and learned Gentleman has not answered the middle part of the Question—that is, whether he is aware that the Working Men's Constitutional Union is supported by wealthy persons of the Conservative Party?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

No, Sir; I really have no knowledge affecting the wealth of Members of the Conservative Party; that is a matter with which my hon. and learned Friend is better acquainted than I am, and perhaps he can give some information to the House on the subject.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman tell us whether this is the same Society whose members received 1s. for coming into the Lobby of the House?

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

Perhaps the Attorney General can inform us whether there are not several Building Socities called Liberal Societies, which advance money to Liberal voters to enable them to build their own houses?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

said, he had no knowledge on the subject.