HC Deb 25 July 1887 vol 317 cc1892-3
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following statement in a letter in the Daily News of the 21st instant, signed by the Hon. Secretary of the North Hants Liberal Association:— In the district of Crookham I saw a gentleman come to the poll with his servant, whose name had been struck out by the Revising Barrister, and who had been informed of that fact by my son, to whom he admitted that he had no qualification. Yet his master brought him to the poll to swear that he was another of the same name. Afterwards that other applied to vote, but could only tender a vote which contributed nothing to the issue, like that of the personator and perjurer; and, whether the facts are as stated; and, if so, whether he will direct the Public Prosecutor to take action in the matter?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

In reply to the hon. and learned Member, I have to state that I hare no means of judging whether the facts are as stated, inasmuch as the newspaper extract contains no names. As the offence suggested is of a most grave character, I certainly should not direct the Public Prosecutor to take proceedings upon the strength of a newspaper paragraph. The hon. and learned Gentlemen, no doubt, knows perfectly well, as well as I do, that if the facts are as stated, they can be brought to the notice of the Public Prosecutor in the usual way, or independent proceedings can be taken.

MR. CONYBEARE

asked, whether the Attorney General was not the official representative of the Public Prosecutor in that House; if not, who was; and, whether, as the case had now been brought officially under his notice he would make the inquiries required of him under Section 45 of the Corrupt Practices Act?

SIR, RICHARD WEBSTER

There is no such thing as an official representative of the Public Prosecutor. The Public Prosecutor acts, in many cases, independently. It is only in some few instances that the Law Officers communicate with him with regard to giving him their sanction as to certain proceedings. I say, again, the hon. and learned Member knows perfectly well that if the facts are as stated, there is a ready means of bringing them under the notice of the Public Prosecutor.