The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-03 00:00:00

The house then went into committee on the above
bill, resuming at clause A, relative to the qualifications
of vestrymen, adjourned from 28th June.
On the clause relative to the mode of voting being put,
Lord EBRINGTON suggested that the mode of
voting should be by polling instead of by voting paper.
It was a system that had been adopted with success in
the election of guardians throughout the kingdom. It
had also been successfully tried in St. Pancras. He con-
tended there would be less fraud by voting as he pro-
posed than by the present mode of voting, and moved
an amendment accordingly.
Mr. WILLIAMS opposed the amendment. The
house, by agreeing to it, would commit a great error,
for a worse system could not be adopted than placing
the electoral franchise in the hands of the police.
Lord EBRINGTON considered the votes would be
taken better by the course he proposed than the present
mode. He cared not who it was done by, and if tht
police was an objectionable body to perform the duty,
let a certain number of men be engaged for the purpose
at 2s. per day.
Mr. WILKINSON supported the amendment of the
noble lord, and presented a petition in its favour.
Sir B. HALL said this was not a new mode of voting
prescribed by the bill. He proposed eight places instead
of one, for the borough of Lambeth for taking the votes,
which was approved of by the rate-payers, though not
by the guardians. To make a great measure palatable
to the rate-payers it should contain provisions in ac-
cordance with the public feeling, but were he to adopt
the course proposed by the noble lord it would be dis-
tasteful to the public and insure its rejection.
Mr. A. PELLATT agreed with Lord Ebrington. The
course he suggested for taking the votes would be the
means of preventing popular excitement and a great sav-
ing of expense.
Sir J. SHELLEY supported the original clause. He
was not aware parochial elections were so expensive as
some honourable members
,appeared to think. The in-
habitants of the metropolis were in favour of the
mode adopted in the bill.
Sir W. CLAY was so fully impressed with the value
of the mode of voting adopted by the bill, that had
a reform bill been introduced this session be should,
have asked the house to adopt it for the election of
members of Parliament. He suggested to the noble
lord it would be better for him to withdraw his
amendment than divide the house upon it.

Sir W. CLAY thought the house was making a
mistake in mixing this up with the police—a mistake
they too often fell into, of making the police appear
so important. He thought the noble lord had done
right in bringing this question before the house.
Sir G. GREY said no doubt irregularities had occurred
in the delivery of the voting papers at the voters houses
and calling for them again. He could easily understand
that this was a convenient mode for those who would
not take the trouble to go to the poll, but that was
likely to be got over by the present bill, eight polling
places having been appointed instead of one for taking
the vAes. He thought this question ought to be decided
on the general feeling and wish of the ratepayers, and
from all he had heard it appeared the system proposed
by the bill met with the sanction and approval of the
majority of them.
Lord EBRINGTON then withdrew his amendment.
(LEFT SITTING.)