BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

As the Central Office "machine" expanded, its clerical staff
was enlarged. Many were hired on a temporary basis to meet the
immediate demands of registration.
The minutes recorded by the Grand
Council
indicate an increase in the number of employees just prior to
uuly in anticipation of a General Election.
Certainly, heightened
political awareness was shown in June when the Organizing Secretary's
title was changed to Political Secretary, a staff of lecturers
established, and a "Special Fund" created to assist his efforts. The
presence of Captain Middleton, Principal Agent for the Conservative
party, at Council meetings during this period suggests the importance
of these gatherings and their relevance to larger political
developmens.9
The professionalization of the Central
Office continued apace.
In July, W. Haigh was appointed Registrar at an annual salary of £150.
He replaced F.D. Thomas, who had served from December through April,
receiving an honorarium of one hundred pounds for his contributions.
After just over four months service as Secretary, Cusack-Smith was
given a raise of over fifty percent, totaling £230 a year. In
September the Political
Secretary was encouraged to hire several more
lecturers and make temporary additions to staff, again in anticipation
of the November General Election and under the watchful eye of
Middleton.
Pamphlet distribution was stepped up and three more rooms
were rented to accommodate the League's expanding functions. A
telephone was even sanctioned for the Central
Office.10
1885.
9
10
Ibid., 17 April 1885; 10 June 1885; 17 June 1885; 8 July
Ibid., 22 July 1885; 29 April 1885; 9 September 1885; 16