HC Deb 25 March 1884 vol 286 cc746-8
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether his attention has boon drawn to a circular issued from the offices of the Chelsea Liberal Association to every elector in the borough, inviting subscriptions to a fund to be raised for the purpose of returning the Right hon. Sir Charles Dilke and J. F. B. Firth, esq., free of expense; which circular is accompanied by a printed form of cheque, and a stamped and directed envelope; whether he is aware that the expense of such a circular would amount to over £150; whether such sum of money would have to be included in the election expenses return, under the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Act; whether the treasurers mentioned in the circular who receive, and the persons who pay, any sums of money on account of the election expenses of Sir Charles Dilke and J. F. B. Firth, esq., will, under the 28th section of the 47th and 48th Vic. c. 51, be guilty of an illegal practice; whether he is aware that the circular is signed, amongst j others, by a Lord of the Treasury and by the Vice President of the Council; and, what stops he proposes to take should it be found that the signatories of the circular have committed an offence J against the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Act?

MR. FIRTH

Before my hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General answers the Question, perhaps may be permitted to make a personal explanation. The necessary effect of the Question of the noble Lord is to make the subscription a success. It has consequently been suggested that the Question has been asked at my suggestion. ["Order!"]

MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. and learned Gentleman desires to make a personal explanation he is at liberty to do so; but he is not entitled to make a speech. He must confine himself within the limits of an explanation.

MR. FIRTH

I only wish to say that there is no ground whatever for that statement with regard to the circular. I wish to say that I have no knowledge of the circular having been issued, and that I have not seen it—in fact, I was not aware that it had been issued, and I do not know who has signed it; but I think it is a very useful circular.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

With regard to the circular, I think we may assume that the statements of the noble Lord are correct—I mean on this occasion.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

I rise to Order. I beg, Mr. Speaker, to call your attention to the fact that an offensive expression has been used by the hon. and learned Attorney General towards my noble Friend the Member for Woodstock (Lord Randolph Chruchill). The hon. and learned Gentleman stated that it may be assumed that the facts as stated by the noble Lord are correct "on this occasion." I wish to ask you, Sir, if a Member of Her Majesty's Government has any special prerogative to insult other Members of this House?

MR. SPEAKER

In answer to the point of Order, I should say that the remark of the hon. and learned Gentleman was not out of Order.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

I had no intention of saving anything offensive to the noble Lord. The fact seems to be that some influential electors of the borough of Chelsea appear so highly to appreciate the Parliamentary services of their present Representatives that they wish to relieve them from the burden of any expenditure at the next election. I should be very sorry to think that such an act should for one moment be looked upon as an illegal or corrupt practice—in fact, I think that, to a great extent, it would be deserving of encouragement. The noble Lord, in suggesting that such an object is illegal, does not seem to have availed himself of that able legal assistance so immediately at his command, and to which he owes so much. As to the question whether the expense of such a circular as that referred to should be included in the Return of the election expenses, I can only say that if events should arise which render it necessary to determine that question, I shall be very happy to give my opinion to those who may need guidance on the subject; but at present I am afraid that I am unable to discover any likelihood of the noble Lord being placed in a position to require advice on the subject.