MR. MASTERS SMITHsaid, he begged to ask the noble Lord the Member for London, whether he had any intention of introducing, during the present Session of Parliament, any measure for the disfranchisement of the electors in Her Majesty's dockyards?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLThe notice which I gave of introducing a Bill for disfranchising persons employed in the dockyards was in consequence of the Report of the Chatham Election Committee, for it seemed unreasonable to withhold the writ from Chatham without either bringing in a measure for disfranchising the dockyards, or else some Bill for preventing the exercise of undue influence upon persons employed in those places. But after I gave notice, it appeared that the measure would be one that would meet with considerable opposition, or that, at all events, would occasion a great deal of discussion, and that being the case, I do not think it would be desirable to interrupt business of great importance by a measure of this description. When the general question of the reform of the representation of the people comes before Parliament, it may be considered whether it would be possible to bring in some measure for the protection of dockyard voters, or whether they ought to be disfranchised. I do not, however, intend during the present Session, to introduce any measure upon that subject, and therefore I shall not offer any opposition to the issue of a new writ for the borough of Chatham.