MR. T. H. BOLTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will, during the Recess, 263 consider the desirability of bringing in next Session a Bill to provide for the appointment of registration officers throughout the country, on whom shall be cast the duty of placing on the registers of voters at Parliamentary, Municipal, and Parochial elections all persons duly qualified under the existing laws?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)The hon. Member will, I am sure, understand that it is impossible for me to answer his question at such a short notice, but if he likes to repeat it early next Session I will endeavour then to answer it.
MR. T. H. BOLTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he cannot see his way to dealing with the matter on the larger lines suggested in my question, to consider the desirability of casting on the overseers and parish officers the duty of ascertaining the lodgers entitled to vote as well as the tenement or "compound" householders.