THE COST OF ENGLISH ELECTIONS

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1919, 19 April 1880, Page 3

THE COST OF ENGLISH ELECTIONS

The "Daily Telegraph,,!' remarks that an old reproach that seats iri the House of Commons are only for rich men will hardly be removed by an experience of electioneering under itß latest aspect. The severe laws against bribery and treating may conduce to morality, and they muat lessen the expense in many largo constituencies. On the other hand, the extension of the suffrage has so multiplied the number of electors that the task of appealing to them must have added enormously to the labour and cost falling upon a candidate. There is no law against canvasfirig, and the employment of a little army of canvassers becomes a necessity to the aspirant for Parliamentary honours isto keep his claims before the voters. In the eame way, committee rooms, stationery, placards, advertising, and other itemß swell to immense proportions. A populous borough it has been calculated, cannot now be thoroughly " fought " without an expenditure of four or five thousand pounds on each sido, and suoh an estimate will excite no surprise if we tako recent experience at Sheffield as our guide. According to the statements of their respective agents, Mr Waddy expended £1939, and Mr Wortley £3794, or nearly double the coßts of his rival —the explanation of the discrepancy boing, no doubt, that he was on the aggressive, and had thus to bear all the brunt of an elaborate organisation for tho future benefit of his party, while the Liberals fought with a large volunteer agency long since complete. Of the £5700 which these two gentlemen spent only the odd £7OO consisted of returning - officer's expenses. We need hut multiply such figures by the number of constituencies, and make a few deductions for altogether exceptional cases, such as London University and Ripon, to form an idea of the ocean of money which a general election will set flowing over the country—to drown probably not a few reputations.