"THOSE FIGURES."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 6

"THOSE FIGURES."

Sir—ln your issue of January 31, a correspondent, signing himself "Non-Faction-isf," takes you to task "On Irish Representation in the House of Commons as expressed by your leader of January ->j. "Non-Factionist" hardly states the facts of tho caso when ho states that fhe--e.ighths of tho Redmoudites are elected unopposed." 110 might have added that the O'Brienites do not sharo in tho American dollars that Mr. J. Redmond colloctod iu Amorica for tho rsatioual" ists. "Non-Factionist" says Unionists don't advocat© a readjustment of seat 3 for Wales and Scotland. I might remind "Non-Factionist" that Unionists havo advocated n redistribution of seats for all parts of tho United Kingdom. To show what a vote counts I would point out that Romford (Essex), with over -15,000 voters, return one member, Ncwry, with hardly 2000 voters, sends ouo to tho House of Commons. No doubt these aro tho extreme points. Most of the divisions represented by tho Nationalists run to about 6000; a great lot of the English constituencies run into fivo figures. Thus London, with a population greater than Ireland, returns 62 members, for Ireland's 103. t Then again, London has more population than all Scotland which returns 72 members. I should like to remind "Non-Faction-ist" that on tho last redistribution of seats carried out by the lato Mr. Gladstone thero were some scandalous arrangements. Ono 1 might mention. Xewry was retained, and it has almost remained stationary, whereas Lisburn was struck out, which only needed a few votes to mako np tho number. At tho present time it is almost twice as largo as Newry. It looked like partisanship, brcauss Newry returned a. Nationalist, whereas Lisburn had always been Unionist. Then in regards to Scotland, Mr. Gladstono having a strong following was anxious to retain tho 72 members, and grouped a number of small boroughs. If this had not been done ,the «kctors in these small boroughs would havo been put into the counties. I might also remind "Non-Factionist" that there is a lot of impersonation goes on in most of tho Irish elections. Ono of the Nationalists speaking after tho genoral olection (not the ono that ha 9 just been held) declared that in his division (South Down) they polled every living Nationalist and somo of the dead ones, too. Then again, quits recently we had cabled out to us here tho opinion of tho Master of Elibank on plural voting. I suppose "Non-Factionist" would also endorso that opinion. _ However, there is more than the Unionists would looso by this. One would think that all property belonged to tho Unionists. At somo previous elections I havo seen Nationalist voters recording their votes in divisions in the west of Scotland, taking steamer across to Ireland and recording their votes for tho Nationalist in divisions in the north of Ireland. So it will bo seen that to abolish plural voting others would suffer as well as tho Unionists. Personally, I think all elections should bo held on one day with manhood suffrage, as from what I have seen it amounts to a scandal tho way somo of tho Nationalists havo been put on tho register. To givo a case in point: two brothers, bachelors, were living on a small farm in County Down. They resided in the ono house, consisting of a room and kitchen. It was evident only one oould claim a vote, but to gat both on tho register they closed up tho insido door and made a new door to the outside to givo tho impression that it was two dwellings, and so got on the register. I should also remind "Non-Factionist" that most of the elections aro foucht and won in tho revision courts. Then ho points out that under tho Act of Union Ireland was to send 103 representatives to Westminster. Clearly this was "NonFactionist's" cause for writing. Now, if Ireland is to retain her 103 representatives, clearly England must be entitled to a great increase of members, which would make the nouse of Commons very ir.wieldly. If the : House is not to bo increased beyond 670 then a readjustment should be ono of the first acts of the new Parliament, though I do not think Mr. Asquith would like to increase the English representatives and lose his followers in Ireland and Scotland.—l am, etc.,' THOS. M. MILLIGAN. February 2.