The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-15 00:00:00

LORD GRANVILLE ON THE HOUSE

OF COMMONS.

In London on Tuesday a conference of officers of
Liberal associations, which was largely attended, was
held at the Cannon-street Hari, Sir John Lubbock,
M.P., and Mr. E. N. Buxton successively preddinv, at
which several papers on the Corrupt Practices Act as
affecting counties and boroughs, and on the operation
of the Act at York and Ipswich, were read, which
were followed by a discussion.

• In the evening a banquet took place, over whieh Earl
Granville presided. His lordship responded to the toast
of her Majeate 'A Ministers, and in the course of his
epee lb said—l understand that thia association has
been formed for the purpose of exciting and of bringing
forth the extensive, alteough somewhat latent, Libe•
raltsm of the counties, and it appears to me that your
arrangements for That pnepose are of a singularly
simple and efficient kind. I understand that it is your
object to establish local associations in every polling
district, and to establish central associations in every
county, and to make this institution the bend of
union of the whole. The object of the central associa-
tions to which I have referred is to organize to re-
gister, and to select candidates, while it will be your
business to set the local ard central associations in
motion, and to give that instruction and that information
which will make them the most useful to the cause you
have at heart. It appears to me that there is one thing
of vital importance for the fature welfare of our be-
loved country. I believe that it is absolutely essential
for its happy future that the House of Commons should
be maintained in that high character which it has al-
ways held in the eyes of this country and of the world.
Of all things that may effect its character there ate,
in my belief, none mote important than two—one
being the mode in which the members of the House of
Commons are elected, and the other being the manner
in which those members, when elected, conduct the busis
'tees of the House. The subject of obstruction is a
matter that, perhaps, comes more peculiarly within the
province of the boss of Cone:nem itself to deal with ;
but it is the special proviucs of associations such as that
which I have the honour Low to address to look after
the spode of electing the twerebere of the t Tl•tuse. I need
scarcely say how fetid a thing obstrectien eyeuld be to
the character of the Reuse of Commons if it preveeted
real and neer& leeisletion. Connected as I am with
the Eereign Offiee I cannot ray that we are so deeply
affected by obstruction in the House of Commons
some other important Departments of State are,
athough, undoubtedly, we often take an interest in Bills
which are either not intreduccd into Parliament at all,
or se oich are squeezed out of it fur want of time.
Nevertheless, we have our share in obslruetion. A
long time ego an irgenious man esid that although it
was very difficult to break a lobster's back, it wets
very easy to pull out its claws, and in the same
way, althoueh it is very d;ffieult to reei•t directly a
good popular Bill, it is very eesy to the] ways and
recants by which the House of Ceeeneens knell b,
ptevertted from errivine at the diepuesion of such a
measure. I question whether a more powerful means
of delay can be invented than that of asking a number
of unimportant questions, and I ventme to think tbet
the Foreign Office contributed ite share to that branefi
of obstruction. We Liberals were accwed of offering
a factious opposition to the foreign policy of the late
Government. I myself thought it necessary te ask
questions in the House of Lords; but I do not re-
member any one instance in which I insisted on having
an answer to a question when, on the authority of the
Government, I was told that it would be injurious to