The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

COUNTY REGISTRATION.

Mr. CRAUF HIM asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether his attention had boon called to a mooting held
at the Red Lion Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday last, for
the purpose of inaugurating the Cambridgeshire, Isle of
Ely, and Town of Cambridge Conservative Registration
Society, which was alleged to have boon summoned and
presided over by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of
Cambridge, the Earl of Hardwicke, and at which he was
reported to have made the following, amongst other obser-
vations, "Some short period of time has elapsed—two months
—since I felt it my duty to take the chair at a preliminary
meeting which was called for the purpose of forming a
Tqwn. and County Registration Society. . . . I take
the chair to-day as a Conservative. I look forward to the
necessity for such a society as this for the purpose of guid-
ing those persons who in future will have to exercise the
Parliamentary franchise, and of leading them to their posi-
tion on the register. . • I hope I shall *LAWN. with
influence, to establish a Conservative Registration As-
sociation in the county," and whether her Majesty's Go-
vernment were prepared to sanction and approve such an
interference in electoral matters on the part of a peer of
the realm ?

Mr. DISRAELI said he did not know upon what prin-
ciple the hon. gentleman objected to the conduct of Lord
Hardwick°. There was an ancient resolution which pre-
cluded peers from interfering in the election of members
of Parliament, passed, he believed, in the year 1611, but
he did not think that could be construed to extend to regis-
trations. (Laughter.) It would be more convenient if tho
hon. gentleman felt it desirable that the house should
express its opinion on the matter for him to bring the
subject forward in a more precise form, in order that the
sense of the house might bo taken on it. His own impres-
sion was that all efforts to promote registration in the new
constituencies ought to be encouraged, and so far as his
own feelings wore concerned, he was in favour of everything
calculated to increase the general body. The conduct of
Lord Hardwicke did not appear of a character to surprise
him (Mr. Disraeli). Ho naturally took great interest in
the county in which ho resided, and no doubt he exerted
himself amongst his neighbours to promote registration—
(laughter)—in order that they might be in a position to
take advantage of the great boon that Parliament had con-
ferred upon them. (Laughter.)
PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND.)

Mr. C. LANYON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether he intended to recommend during this session the
repeal of the Party Processions Act ; or, if not, whether he
intended to recommend any alterations in the said Act
with a view of removing all doubts as to the interpretation
of said law, and of satisfying the public mind that an im-
partial administration of the same will, as far as possible,
be secured in all parts of Ireland ?
Earl MAYO said he did notiutend to postpone the repeal
of the act, but he thought it was more than likely that
something would be done to remove any misapprehension
that might exist on the subject.
THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

Mr. VERNER asked the Secretary to the Treasury for
what reason the outgoing Australian mails were now
arranged to start the day before the arrival of the incom-
ing, and thereby cause most serious inconvenience, and
also expense to correspondents with those colonies ?
Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH said the opportunity of an-
swering letters by the Australian mails, as now arranged,
extended to five days, via Marseilles, at an increased
charge of only 4d. The present dates of departure had
been fixed after the greatest consideration, and he did not
think they could be altered to meet the views of the hon.
member. He thought that the facilities afforded via
Marseilles quite compensated for the increase of the post-
age.