BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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While the move to shift registration duties to the localities was
unsuccessful, it did point to pressures exerted by Habitations for
greater freedom and initiative.
The potential limits of Central Office powers were further
indicated in June, 1887 when an Agency Committee report recommended
that a uniform system of bookkeeping be introduced in all Habitations.
Recommendations were also made that no Associate be admitted free of
charge at the local level.
In both instances the Grand Council
expressed support in principle for the proposal, but was disinclined to
act for fear of interfering with established precedents.31
The introduction in October, 1887 of The Primrose Gazette, a
newspaper inspired by Grand Council, in many respects marks the
transition of the League from one organization among several interest
groups to the political association par excellence of late nineteenth
century Britain.
League newspapers.
In actual fact, there was no shortage of Primrose
At the local level the League received frequent
coverage in the provincial Conservative papers and several grass-roots
Primrose League productions.
They included The Primrose (Bournemouth)
begun in December, 1886 and extending through April the following year.
Ladywood Magazine, first begun in March of 1887, was still in existence
by 1892, although serving principally as a party organ.
Two other
regional productions in existence at least during 1887 were The
Primrose Magazine (Huddersfield region) and The Constitutional Magazine
and Primrose Record (Coin Valley, Gloucestershire).32
1887.
31 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 3 June
32 The Primrose (Bournemouth), British Library. Ladywood