§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, "Whether there was any precedent, having in view the fact of the late 1424 period of the year in which the House was sitting, for a Writ for election being issued in December? The reason for his objection was that persons who would be eligible to vote on the 1st of January next, and who were already on the register, would be debarred from exercising that privilege if the election were to take place now, and even those who now voted must have occupied their houses for two-and-a-half years—since July, 1886. No doubt, if Parliament were not sitting, the Writ would not be issued until the new electorate came into the possession of the franchise.
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I have had no intimation from the hon. and learned Gentleman that he intended to ask me this Question, and I can only speak from the impression I have in my mind. I believe we have no alternative. The Statute requires that the Writ should be issued as soon as the fact of the death is known and certified to the Speaker. It may be that the hon. and learned Gentleman is accurate in his statement as to the new voters. No doubt, if the House were not sitting the Speaker would issue the Writ in due course.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYgave Notice that when the Writ was moved for he should move that it was inexpedient to issue the Writ until the new electors were able to exercise the franchise.