HC Deb 09 June 1852 vol 122 cc373-4

The House then again went into Committee on, this Bill.

MR. DEEDES

said, as the principal difficulty would be the paucity of polling booths at the ensuing election, he would give notice of a clause that the sheriff shall on the requisition of the Court of Quarter Sessions increase the number of polling booths.

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 (Polling at County Elections to continue for one day only): Proposed to fill the blank with "passing of the Act."

Afterwards moved, "That the blank be filled with '1st day of January, 1853.'"

Question put, "That the blank be filled with 'passing of the Act.'"

The Committee divided: —Ayes 134; Noes 91: Majority 43.

Clause agreed to.

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

then moved a clause to enable the high sheriff to make such provisions in the polling booths that not more than 300 electors shall be polled at the same compartment, instead of 450, as is the rule at present.

SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH

thought there should be an increase of polling districts rather than of polling booths, so that the voters would have to travel shorter distances to give their vote's.

MR. BECKETT DENISON

said, no one disputed the desirability of increasing the polling districts, but that did not touch the question. He objected to the clause proposed, because it would increase the polling booths unnecessarily.

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

said he had no objection to make it an enabling instead of a compulsory Clause; but if the opinion of the Committee was against the clause, he would not press it.

Clause withdrawn. House resumed.

Bill reported.