The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05 00:00:00

MEETING OF CONSERVATIVE PEERS.

In London on Tuesday a meeting of the Conserva-
tive peers was held at Lord Salisbury's residence in
Arlington-street for the purpose of discussing what
their line of action should be with regard to the
resolution as to Egyptian affairs, of which notice has
been given by Lord Carnarvon, and also as to the
course to be pursued in the matter of the Representa-
tion of the People Bill, which has recently been sent
up to the Upper House. Lord Salisbury was in the
chair, and there was a large attendance.
The Times of Wednesday gave the following account
of the proceedings :
In a few words, the chairman explained that after
consultation with the leaders of the party, he had
come to the resolution of advising the Peers that it
would not be desirable to proceed with the motion of
which Lord Carnarvon had given notice if Lord Granville
confirmed the statement made in the House of,
Commons by the Prime Minister, that discussion
"was most inopportune and most injurious to the
public interests.' It was arranged that Lord Carnarvon
should address a question to the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs on this point. _ _ _

The- meeting having unanimously approved of this
arrangement, Lord Salisbury proceeded, at consider-
able length, to discuss the position which, in his
opinion, the Lords should assume with regard to the
Franchise Bill. He described the consequences which
would ensue to the country from the reduction of the
franchise unaccompanied by redistribution, and he
announced that Lord Cairns would move the fol-
lowing resolution : " That this House, while pre-
pared to concur in any well-considered and com-
plete scheme for the extension of the franchise,
does not think it right to assent to the second
reading of a bill having for its object a fundamental
change of the constitution of the electoral body of the
United Kingdom which is not accompanied by provi-
sions for so apportioning the right to return members
as to insure a true and fair representation of the
people, or by any adequate security in the proposals
of the Government that the present bill shall not
come into operation except as part of •an entire
scheme." _ _ _

Lord Jersey advocated the matter being dealt with
in the more indirect manner of an amendment in
committee.

Lord Hardinge spoke in favour of Lord Salisbury's
proposals, as did also the Duke of Richmond, who
took the opportunity of denying the report that had
been circulated that he was unfavourable to the re-
jection of the bill. He stated that from the very first
he had recognised that the House of Lords should
refuse to pass it.
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, in an• able speech,
strongly supported Lord Salisbury's proposals.
Lord Ravensworth and Lord Norton gave a modi-
fied support to the suggestions of Lord Jersey, but,
as the meeting appeared to be so unanimous in support
of their leader, they stated that they would withdraw
their objections.
Lord Waterford, on behalf of the Irish peers,
accepted Lord Salisbury's scheme, and pointed out
dangers which he believed would arise in Ireland by
the extension of the franchise unaccompanied by re-
distribution.

After a few words from Lord Salisbury and a vote
of thanks to him, proposed by the Duke of Abereorn
the meeting dissolved.