BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

friendly relations between Habitations and Associations while none­
theless acknowledging past difficulties.
It has been our wish to act in harmony with the local
Conservative Associations . . . and to aid them in
every way which they might suggest. Any jealousy which
might at first have existed, has been swept away by the
loyal and hearty cooperation of the members of the
League.77
Despite the Grand Council disclaimer, rivalries continued.
One of the more prolonged disputes involved a conflict between
Hoddesdon Conservative Association and Hoddesdon Habitation in the
Eastern or Hertford Division of Hertfordshire.
From the inception of
the Habitation in 1886, Hoddesdon Association sought to curtail the
influence of the Primrose League in the region.
The association set
about to ensure that it retained exclusive control
in matters relating
to the canvassing and registering of voters while taking measures to
stem the loss of members to the Habitation.78
The situation had deteriorated to such a degree by May of 1886
that Hoddesdon Association contacted Grand Council
regarding "the
existence of two Conservative organizations in Hoddesdon."
A copy of
the resolution was also forwarded to the Habitation.
In June the
association attributed declining attendance to the influence of the
Habitation, a phenomenon which it deemed caused "disadvantage to the
Conservative Cause."
It proposed by way of an alternative, the
transformation of Hoddesdon Habitation into an organization composed
77 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Prirmose League,
January, 1886.
78
Hoddesdon Conservative Association Minutes, 28 January
1886; Hertfordshire Record Office, D/EX247 Zl.