BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Whereas the Ladywood Habitation addressed a fairly broad range
of issues while giving prominence to the topic of Home Rule,
Huddersfield focused predominantly on the Irish question, despite the
apparent lack of emphasis given to the topic in the West Riding region
as a whole.33
Representatives from the Irish Patriotic Union were
engaged on several occasions and an Ulster Loyalist was also recruited
as a speaker.
Political addresses by local, regional, and national
lecturers focused on the threat of Home Rule.
The leaflets distributed
amongst the members of the Habitation reflected this orientation,
bearing the titles "Irish Evictions," "What Has Mr. Parnell and his
Party Done for Ireland," "A Gladstone Catechism," "Mr. Gladstone's
Apologies," and "Two Crimes Act: A Contrast." 34
The prominance of national
issues was suggested by the speakers
recruited to address the Habitation.
Two prominent Unionists, Sir
Frederick Milner and Ponsonby Moore, addressed members at the inaugural
meeting, the latter individual attending on behalf of Grand Council. A
member of the Primrose League who lectured throughout the country, Miss
Milner of York, spoke at a meeting sponsored by Huddersfield Habitation
in the fall of 1889.
Other noteworthy individuals attending functions
included Ashmead Bartlett, member for Sheffield, J.H.
Bottomley,
Conservative Agent for Lancashire, and H.J. Pettifer, a "working class"
April 1891.
33
Pelling, Social Geography of British Elections, p. 304.
34
Huddersfield Habitation Minutes, 14 February 1887; 18 April
1887; 8 November 1887; 2 January 1888; 12 March 1888; 12 April 1889; 19
April 1890; 26 April 1893; 21 July 1894. 19 April 1886; 10 January
1890; 19 April 1890.