BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3086, 17 May 1917, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM

FRANCHISE BILL IN PARLIAMENT

"WE MUST SET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER" CR«c. May 16, 6.40 p.m.) London, May 15.' ■ Mr. W-.H- Long, in introducing the Franchise Bill, said that it would adhere rigidly to the recommendations of tho Speaker's Conference, and would romovo the mysterious qualification. Tho male franchise would consist of two simple qualifications, residence for six months, or occupation of business premises of .the annual value of £10. Proportional representation would bo included in a limited form, and the i machinery for registration would be supplied. The Bill dealt with the redistribution of seats in accordance with the conference recommendations. A Boundary Commission was already sitting. The Bill further provided for all elections to be held on the same dsj. "The introduction of a controversial measure," he added, "is justified, because it is agreed that an election would bo impossible until our fighters have been enfranchised. Moreover, the Imperial Conference proved tho magnitude and urgency of Imperial problems after the war, and so we must first set our own house in order."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - THE CONFERENCE .RESOLUTIONS The Speaker's Conference was hold "to consider and if possible submit agreed resolutions on the following matters: (a) Keform of the franchise; (b) basis Tor, the redistribution of scats; fc) Teform of the system' of registration of electors; (d) method of elections and the manner in which the costs of elections should be borne. It was recommenced that the qualifying period for registration as a Parliamentary elector snail be -reduced fi-oni twelve' months to six, with a revision, of the register every six months; that the periods shall end on January 15 and July 15 in each year; and that the time between the preparation and coming into force of the -register shall be shortened. The three, last-named recommendations are not to apply to'lreland, "which, owing to different conditions, may require special treatment;" "Every person of full aee, not subject to any legal incapacity, who for the qualifying period has resided in any premises or has occupied for the purposes of his business, profession, or trade any premises of the clear yearly value of not less than '.£lO shall be entitled to be registered as a Parliamentary elector." No change should be made iu the law relating to the joint occupation of business premises; but a franchise based on the qualification above quoted should be substituted for all existing franchises. The representation 'of the Universities should be maintained; and qualification shonld not be lost by removal to different premises within the same , constituency (this is the law now) oi- from one constituency to another' in the same borough or country (including the County of London) or to different premises in a contiguous county or borough. ; It is further recommended that a person should not vote at a general election in more than one constituency, provided that "a person shall be entitled to one additional vote in anotheT constituency in respect of the occupation of business premises or in respect of any qualification he may have as a University voter."

: It was decided that it ought to be the duty of the registration officer to ascertain, as far as possible, "the names and addresses of all persons of full age who ordinarily Teside in his area, but who are serving in His Majesty's forces, and such persons should be qualified to be registered and to vote as a Parliamentary elector"; also that in the case of a person who line served in His Majesty's Forces during any part of a qualifying period residence in a constituency for one month immediately preceding January 15 or July 15 shall be a sufficient aualincation. All the resolutions up to this point were unanimous; but only l>y a majority did the Conference decide that "some measure of woman suffrage should be conferred." A • majority was also of opinion that iif Parliament accepts this -principle the most practical form would be fo eonf«r the vote on "any woman on the Local Government register who has attained a specified age and the wife of any man who is on that register j if she has attained that aee." Various ages were discussed, of which 30 and 35 received the most favour; and it was fur%>.r resolved tliat if Parliament grants the franc'hifse any woman of the snecified ajre who is a (rradnate of any. University having Parliamentary -represents tion should be entitled to vote as a University elector. i> Redistribution of Seats. The conference "accepts as governing any soheme of redistribution the principle that each vote recorded shall, as tar a 8 possible, command an equal share of representation in the House of Commons, and declares it to be desirable that,the number of members in Great Britain shall, remain substantially as at present; that 70,000 should bo the etandard unit of population for each member ; that a county or borough (except the City of London) with a population of less than 50,000 should cease to have separate representation, which should, however, continue iu the case of constituencies between 50,000. and 70,000; that a municipal borough or urban district with a population not lees tlian 70,000 should become a separate Parliamentary borough; that, an existing constituency at present returning tiro members should not lose a member if the defect in the population is' 20,000 or less; that a member should, be given for every 70,000 and for every multiplo of. 70,000, and an additional member for any remainder which is not-less than 50,000; that the boun- . daries of Parliamentary constituencies ehould; as far as practicable, coincide with the bouiiciiiries of administrative areas. Tho Boundary Commissioners should be instructed, after ascertaining local opinion, to-segregate, as far as posBiblc, adjacent industrial and rural areas in , forming constituenoies within any county, and where a borough loses its right to separate representation to combino it with any oilier such borough and boroughs lying within tho connty or with iinv other borough in the same connty having noparate representation instead of merging it in tho adjacent county division. Whore an ancient borough loses its representation the county division in which it is merged should l>o named after the merged borough. There is a recommendation , also in favour of regrouping the existing divisions of burghs in Scotland whion are nowi scattered over wide areas. "As regards Ireland, the conforence desires to placo on record that on the subject of redistribution it has carried on its deliberation from the point of view of Great Britain only."

Proportional Representation. "i\ Parliamentary borough which would be entitled on a basis of pormlalion to thren or more members shall be a single constituency . provided that a constituciicv entitled to return more than, five members shall bo divided into two or more constituencies, each returning not loss than three nor more than .hve members. The election in any such conBtitueney shall be leld on the principle of TiropnrtTnnnl representation, and each elector shall'have one transferable vote. For this purpose tlie Metropolis (excluding tho City of London) would be treated as a single .area and divided'into constituencies returning not less than threo nor more than nVmembcrs. Tf this system of proportional representation _ be adopted/then the Boumlarv Commissioners should bo instructed where there are contiguous boroughs which if iormed into a single constituency would be entitled to return not less than three nor more than five members to mute them into one constituency. (The cable news in this issue accredited I to the London "Times" has appeared in I that journal Vat oulr where expressly itated is euoh newe the editorial opinion