HC Deb 21 July 1910 vol 19 cc1442-3
Lord BALCARRES (for Mr. Nield)

asked the Solicitor-General if his attention has been called to the report of certain proceedings in the county court at Leominster, on the 18th instant, from which it appears that a plaintiff named Dockett, who had been a registration agent, and who in his evidence described himself as a political agent for the last five and a half years of the Liberal candidate, sued certain electors of the Leominster Division for the repayment of loans made to them by himself; and whether, in view of the judgment by the learned county court judge dismissing the case, in which he held that the object of these loans was partly, if not entirely, to influence the votes of the defendants at the last General Election, and that the con- sideration for such loans was illegal, and, therefore, irrecoverable, and that it was doubtful if these loans were ever intended to be enforced had the election resulted otherwise, he proposes to have the documents in the case and a full report of the proceedings laid before the Public Prosecutor with a view to further action?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

As I understand an appeal is pending in this case in pu[...]suance of leave given by the judge I would ask the hon. and learned Member to postpone his question until after the appeal has been decided.

Lord BALCARRES

Will the Solicitor-General give directions for the documents to be impounded?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

That is not the question put to me. I was asked whether the case would be laid before the Public Prosecutor. It will be for the judge to say whether the documents should be impounded.

Lord BALCARRES

Pending the decision on appeal, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to secure that the documents do not disappear?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

In view of the fact that an appeal is pending, the documents must be preserved.

Sir F. BANBURY

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman draw the attention of the Gladstone League to the matter?