HL Deb 24 April 1879 vol 245 c966

Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.

EARL STANHOPE,

in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, it was intended to remedy a grievance in the Electoral Law by which householders might be disfranchised owing to the notice with regard to compounding for rates not being in writing. He had been informed that 250 persons had lately been disfranchised at Windsor owing to this informality. The Bill, which consisted of a single clause, provided that no qualification or franchise, depending on rating or payment of rates, should be defeated by reason of any deficiency in any proceeding necessary for the validity of the composition under the Act of 1869, or by reason of any defect or informality in the making thereof. The Bill, he might add, had passed the other House with the sanction of both sides.

Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.