HC Deb 14 March 1881 vol 259 cc911-2
MR. ONSLOW

asked Mr. Attorney General, What steps Her Majesty's Government are taking in order to secure the presentation of the Reports of the Election Commissioners who have not as yet reported before the close of the time specified in the Act for the commencement of a prosecution for corrupt practices; and, in the event of any of the Election Commissioners not reporting in time to prosecute any of those who may be scheduled in these Reports, what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take in order that there may be no miscarriage of justice?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

Sir, at one time there were apprehensions entertained that these Reports would not be presented in time for the purpose stated in the Question; but a practical method was found of getting over the difficulty. It was pointed out that if the labours of the Commissioners were not brought to a close to enable certain steps to be taken by the 31st of March, great inconvenience would result to the public interest; and the Commissioners came to the conclusion that the business was urgent, and they also came to the conclusion that it was of importance to the public interests that the business should be proceeded with without delay. Their doing so was the best way of getting rid of the difficulty; and the proof of it is that their having done so has rendered it unnecessary to answer the second part of the Question.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the proceedings of the Oxford Election Commissioners, by which it appears that on the 30th of October the Chief Commissioner stated that they had notice to conclude the local inquiry in the long vacation, but having been unable to do so, it was adjourned to the 22nd of December; whether that adjournment had his sanction, and whether the professional engagements of the Commissioners had anything to do with the arrangement; and, whether it has not followed that the inquiry is still incomplete?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

Sir, the Oxford Commissioners and the other Commissioners did, from time to time, apply for power to adjourn, and that power I granted, at the same time giving instructions that it was desirable and important that the Reports should be made as soon as possible. It is quite true that the Oxford Commissioners had hoped to have concluded their Report in October; but at the end of October they stated that, with every desire to have concluded the inquiry during the course of the Long Vacation, they had been unable to do so, owing in great measure to the fact that the vouchers presented by Mr. Walsh, the Conservative agent, who had destroyed his accounts, had been found to be unreliable, and they had been engaged during the greater portion of the inquiry in procuring from those who had the management of the different districts their accounts, which they had to render in some cases from memory, and in others from imperfect memoranda. The inquiry has now nearly reached its end. As to the other part of the Question, I am unable to give information.

MR. CHARLES LEWIS

said, that the main question was, whether there was an adjournment from October to December?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I believe that was so. The Commissioners wrote to me that it was an adjournment of their sittings in Oxford; but they held sittings in London during the interval. I may say that it has been rather the business of the Oxford Commissioners to examine me, than my business to examine the Oxford Commissioners.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

said, the main point of the Question was, whether the long adjournment had anything to do with the professional engagements of the Commissioners?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I do not know. I think it is very likely.