BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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meetings should be conducted at the local level.
Further restrictions regarding the initiatives available to
local delegates at Grand Habitations were introduced in February, 1887
through a series of "reforms."
Because of the growth of Habitations,
only one delegate from each association was eligible to attend.
Motions to be introduced were required to be passed at the local
Habitation first before being submitted in writing a fortnight prior to
the meeting. The Grand Council also considered extending this deadline
to the month preceding the convention.
Another modification restricted
the numbers of Grand Council members to be elected in any given year to
two-thirds of the existing Council
(thirty), the other third remaining
to help ensure continuity in function and procedures.
Because the
Grand Habitation had, by this time, become a major undertaking, consti­
tuting in 1887 alone three to four thousand delegates, a decision was
made that year to extend the gathering over two days.
The first was
set aside for business, the second serving as a celebratory affair
attended by the Grand Master, Lord Salisbury.27
With the rising numbers of Habitations came delays in
administrative procedures.
A number of associations expressed
dissatisfaction concerning the slow issuance of Warrants and diplomas,
as well as, the improper recording of dues paid.
Many Habitations
pushed to have registration done at the local level.28 This received
27 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 7
February 1887. The Morning Post, 21 April 1887, p. 2.
28 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 16
December 1885; 16 December 1886. LGC Executive Committee Minutes, 9
April 1886; 26 November 1886. Mocatta to Churchill, 1 April 1886; 9
April 1886. Churchill papers, RCHL xii/1441; 1460. Robb, The Primrose
League, citing England, 5 June 1886; 5 February 1887. England, 30