29 NOVEMBER 1851, Page 2

The friends and members of Freehold Land Societies have had

a public conference this week. From the report read at the meeting, it appears that there are now above a hundred of these societies in active operation, scattered over England and Wales from South- ampton to Carlisle. The capital subscribed to them is estimated at not less than two millions, of which 400,0001. has been paid up. The object for which these societies were originally instituted— the theoretical principle upon which they are based.—is unexcep- tionable. Nothing can be more legitimate than association to ob- tain the elective franchise by fair means, or to procure eligible in- vestments for the small savings of the less wealthy classes. And it is due to the gentlemen who took part in the debates of the con- ference to admit, that there appears to have been no reserve on their part in stating or canvassing any proceedings of the societies that might afford ground for cavil or censure. There are some considerations, however, connected with them, of which the public, and the societies themselves if they regard their character and real utility, will not lose sight. They profess to have no partisan character; but it is pretty certain that none but what are vaguely called " Liberal" politicians are likely to join in them. Now, one at least of these societies, having its seat in the Metropolis, appears to extend its system of freehold purchase and manufacture generally to any county in England ; and by one of the Metropolitan gentlemen present at the congress a proposal was made to connect a Registration Committee with this central association. The disclosures at St. Alban's have shown that a widely-ramified and influential system of electoral corruption has before now grown up out of a " Reform Association " ; the Free- hold Union will therefore do well to avoid any temptation of de- generating into a mere electioneering agency.

Again, the original simplicity of the plan of the Freehold Land Societies appears to have been to some extent departed from, in consequence of their availing themselves of the provisions of the Building Societies Act. This, it is reported, has led to something like a Stock Exchange system of speculation in shares ; to trans- fers of prior rights to choice of allotments at a premium, and to sales of allotments at advanced prices. There is great danger in this; and members ought to beware lest a practice of jobbing should spring up among them, or the transactions of their mana- gers be so extended and complicated as to expose them to risk in the case of any commercial panic. Lastly, an expression dropped at the conference to the effect that Lord John Russell's Reform Bill, if it were to restrict every elector's right of voting to one constituency alone, might be con- sidered as aimed against the societies, would seem to imply that they have been turned to account to obtain votes for the same in- dividuals in several counties. In connexion with this fact, it may be discerned, that although the professed aim of the societies has been to extend the county franchise to the working classes, they appear to be supported and managed principally by the middle classes. It would be a lamentable perversion of these institutions were they converted into an agency for enabling cliques of busy politicians in London or other great towns, to enhance their consequence by obtaining voters at a small expense in a number of counties.