PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES) BILL.

HC Deb 21 June 1883 vol 280 cc1141-2

MR. BROADHURST

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether it is true, as stated in the Public Press— That an intimation has been convoyed to Members who have placed on the Paper Amendments to the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill, informing them that concessions will be made on various points in Committee in order to facilitate the progress of the Bill?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

, in reply, said, that, so far as he was aware, the statement that appeared in the newspaper referred to must have arisen through some strange misapprehension. He knew of no such intimation; certainly it had not been made by him, and he was not aware that it had been made by any Member of the Government. The only statement made on the subject had been made in the House, that so long as they were dealing with matters that did not involve important questions of principle the Government were quite willing to consider any Amendment and make concessions; but when they had to deal with crucial questions of principle they purposed adhering to those principles.