§ MR. CRAUFURDsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to a meeting held at the Red Lion Hotel, Cam- 1976 bridge, on Saturday last, for the purpose of inaugurating the Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely, and Town of Cambridge Conservative Registration Society, which is alleged to have been summoned and presided over by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cambridge, the Earl of Hardwicke, and at which he is reported to have made the following amongst other observations:—
Some short period of time has elapsed—two months—since I felt it my duty to take the chair at a preliminary meeting which was called for the purpose of forming a Town and County Registration Society. …. I take the chair to-day as a Conservative. I look forward to the necessity for such a Society as this for the purpose of guiding those persons who in future will have to exercise the Parliamentary Franchise, and of leading them to their position on the register. … I hope I shall be able, with my influence, to establish a Conservative Registration Association in the county;And whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to sanction and approve such an interference in electoral matters on the part of a Peer of the Realm?
§ MR. DISRAELII do not know, Sir, on what principle the hon. and learned Gentleman objects to the conduct of Lord Hardwicke. Of that he has not informed us in his Question. There is an ancient Resolution of this House that Peers of Parliament should not interfere in elections; but that Resolution having been passed, as I believe, in the year 1641, it naturally did not refer to the subject of registration. It is a matter, no doubt, of constitutional delicacy, but still of a novel character; and I think it would be more convenient if the hon. and learned Gentleman would bring the matter in a more patent way before the House, so that our opinion, if he thinks it necessary, might be taken upon it. I confess my own impression is—it is only an impression—that every effort to promote the registration of the new constituencies, on whatever side it may be made, should be encouraged. I must say that, so far as my own opinion influences me, I should be in favour of any efforts which would increase the number of the electoral body of this kingdom. Therefore, if the hon. and learned Gentleman only asks me whether my attention has been called to this conduct on the part of Lord Hardwicke? I shall merely say at present, that it does not appear to me, on the part of his Lordship, conduct of a character which ought at all to surprise us. I have no doubt Lord Hardwicke takes a great interest in the county in which he resides, and I think the first feeling of 1977 every country gentleman would be that his neighbours, whatever their opinions might be, should be registered, to enable them to exercise the great boon which the wisdom of Parliament has recently conferred upon them.