HARWICH ELECTION. (Hansard, 16 July 1851)

§ MR. BANKES
said, that some weeks ago he had presented a petition to that House signed by several electors of the borough of Harwich, complaining of Government interference at the last election for that borough. He had intended then to have moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the allegations contained in that petition, but he was informed that that would not have been a convenient opportunity for doing so, as an Election Committee was at that time trying a petition complaining of an undue return for Harwich. He had then deferred to the general opinion of the House, and postponed the Motion he wished to introduce on the subject; and as the Election Committee had since concluded its labours, and declared that the last election was void, he was now anxious to proceed with his Motion. He, therefore, wished to know from the right hon. Gentleman the Speaker whether he could do so at once by bringing forward the question as one of privilege; or whether he must give notice of a Motion on the subject?

§ MR. SPEAKER
said, that if the electors complained of undue influence at the election, the hon. Gentleman could bring the matter forward at once as a question of privilege.

§ LORD JOHN RUSSELL
said, he wished to call the attention of Mr. Speaker to the fact that some of the signatures to the petition were stated to have been subscribed "by authority." He therefore submitted to Mr. Speaker whether these could be received as the legal signatures of the parties?

§ MR. SPEAKER
said, these names must be considered as if they bad never been attached to the petition at all. Those signatures only were legal which the parties had attached in their own handwriting.

§ MR. BANKES
then said, he should submit to the House his Motion that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into, the allegations of the petition; and, although it appeared that some of the names were not legally affixed, yet there was a sufficient number of valid signatures to entitle the petition to the favourable consideration of the House. For his own part he had no personal connexion with the borough of Harwich, and he merely brought forward the question as a matter of public importance, and as affecting the interests of the electors and of that House. It was, however, a matter of great importance that elections should be conducted without the interference of the Government. He had heard that at the last Greenwich election, holidays were granted to the electors, in order that they might exercise the right of the franchise; but what would be the use of granting holidays if the voters were to be subjected to the undue influences of those above them? He did not assume that this had taken place at Harwich, but there was an allegation that such had been the case, and he did ask that an inquiry should be made into that allegation. He trusted, therefore, that the Government would not offer any objection to the appointment of the Select Committee for which he asked; and if his Motion were acceded to, he would prefer having the Committee nominated by the Committee of Selection, rather than undertake the task of selecting the Members himself. Without further remark, he would now submit his Motion to the approval of the House.

§ LORD JOHN RUSSELL
I have only one word to say, and that is that there is no intention on the part of the Government to oppose any obstacle in the way of the proposed inquiry.

§ MR. GRANVILLE BERKELEY
having had the misfortune to be a Member of the Harwich Election Committee, which had sat for eighteen days, begged to re- 837 commend that the inquiry should extend to the previous elections for some time past.

§ MR. BANKES
was quite willing that such should be the case.