§ MR. CONYBEAREasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard to the declaration in favour of a review of the whole subject of Registration contained in his manifesto to the electors of Midlothian, it is the intention of the present Government to introduce any measure for the amendment and simplification of the Law relating to the Registration of Parliamentary Voters?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE)I am not surprised at the appearance of this Question, which relates to a subject that has been specially commended to the consideration of the country and the new Parliament. The reason why Her Majesty's Government have not thought themselves justified, at the first moment on the assembling of the new Parliament, in opening this question for discussion in the House of Commons is that perhaps this is not the moment at which it is so urgent as it would be when the life of Parliament is somewhat further advanced. Another reason is that it is our first duty to examine whether we shall not have to make very large demands upon the time of the House with regard to important proposals connected with social order and other great questions in Ireland to which I have previously referred—namely, questions connected with the land and the government of that country.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYasked, whether, in the meantime, the right hon. Gentleman would refer the question to a Select Committee?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI by no means meet that with a negative, and it will be a subject for consideration.