§ 72 and 73. Sir R. COOPERasked (1) whether it will be open to the Committee on Franchise and Registration to recommend that so-called conscientious objectors should not be placed upon the register of voters whilst soldiers at the front are unable to vote; and (2) whether the Committee on Franchise and Registration, over which Mr. Speaker is to preside, will have power to consider and report upon the over-representation of Ireland in Parliament?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy right hon. Friend would prefer to leave it to the Conference to determine the limits within which their recommendations should range?
§ Sir E. CARSONIs there any definition of the duties of this Conference or is the Conference itself to decide what are its duties?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy right hon. Friend thinks that such a question as this, for example, should be left to the decision of the Conference. It is a very important question, and I hope that my right hon. Friend will wait until my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board is back again, when he can address a question to him.
§ Sir E. CARSONAs the Committee is sitting from day to day, is there anything laid down as to its duties and the questions which it is to determine?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThere has been a great deal of communication with the Committee as to the limits within which they are desired to act, and at present it is not desirable to give further directions to the Committee. [HON. MEMBER: "Speak up!"]
§ Sir E. CARSONMay I ask my right hon. Friend when the Government are going to take the Registration Bill; and may I ask whether he recollects the promise that it would be taken immediately after the assembling of Parliament after the August adjournment, and we are now a long way from that?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWPerhaps my right hon. Friend will put his question to the Prime Minister to-morrow.