§ MR. CROSSsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary for the Home Department, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Ministers to take any steps towards extending the provisions of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act to Municipal Elections?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, the Corrupt Practices' Prevention Act with reference to Parliamentary Elections was now at that moment under his consideration, and he was endeavouring to amend that Act. The result of several Election Petitions last year had induced him to think that, what occurred in the course of those petitions might suggest Amendments which might be introduced into the Bill; and, therefore, if the House would allow the subject to stand over for ten days or a fortnight to consider such Amendments, he would lay a Bill on the table. Having done so, he should propose to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, as had been the case before, and it would then be brought down to the House for their consideration. He saw no reason why the provisions of the Bill should not be extended to Municipal Elections, but he thought it better to put the Act respecting Parliamentary Elections into a satisfactory shape before they applied it in the way suggested by the Member.