§ MR. ONSLOWasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether a candidate for any particular constituency for the next General Election will have to schedule, in his Election expenses, any sums of money expended by him between this time and said Election, for hire of rooms for addressing, of necessity somewhat frequently, different places in a populous constituency, and for any other incidental and necessary charges; and, whether he has considered the probability of a very largo portion of the bonâ fide expenses allowed under the Corrupt Practices Bill, for the purposes of carrying out an Election, being absorbed before the actual Election takes place; and, if so, whether he can suggest any remedy?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES), in reply, said, that the points raised in the Question were the subject of much discussion when the Bill was in Committee in that House; and, now, he could do more than repeat an answer ho had endeavoured to make to a former Question. As he understood it, the effect of the Act would be this. It would be a consideration whether a meeting were of a general character, and held for the purpose of supporting the interests of a Party, or simply for a Member meeting his constituents and making an annual statement or address to his constituency generally, and the expenses of such a meeting need not be scheduled. But if a meeting were held for the purpose of advocating the claims of particular candidates in an approaching elec- 1761 tion, then the expenses of the meeting would be taken as part of the expenses connected with the election, and must be taken into account. With regard to the second part of the Question, he had not considered the probability therein stated. Experience showed that if there were an error in the Schedules, it was that the limits fixed were too high, instead of being too low. Lastly, his hon. Friend asked what remedy he would apply. The remedy was in the hon. Gentleman's own hands. If he would go to fewer meetings, and spend less money, he would arrive at the end contemplated by the Act, and attain the result he desired.
§ MR. ONSLOWsaid, they must bear in mind that difficulties were created by the fact that Members could not stand for the particular districts which they now represented. They might have to go and seek other constituencies; therefore, they might have to address large constituencies in different districts. In that case, the question arose whether expenses incurred in existing areas were to be scheduled in the election expenses as having been incurred in the new areas in which, where they were larger, more meetings would have to be held than were formerly necessary? He was one who wished to act strictly according to law, and therefore would press a Question which he thought of some importance. Supposing an association paid the expenses of a candidate going a tour of a constituency which he was about to contest, and the candidate contributed to the funds of that association, would those expenses paid by the association have to be scheduled?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said, his answer applied to candidates equally as well as to Members. The areas of the new county constituencies were much less than those of the old ones, and he had had applications on that account to reduce the amounts fixed by the Schedules. With respect to the second part of the last Question of the hon. Gentleman, he had yet to know that an association ever paid the expenses of a candidate on a tour; but if any such association existed, he would advise the hon. Member not to subscribe to it.
§ MR. BRODRICKasked, whether the expenses of the recent meeting at Bury, 1762 which the hon. and learned Gentleman attended, would be scheduled amongst his election expenses?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)Certainly not. We are not dealing with any particular election, or candidature of particular election. My hon. Friend the sitting Member was making his usual speech to his constituents, and I attended as his guest at the meeting.
MR. STAVELEY HILLsaid, he wished to know if the hon. and learned Gentleman intended, by the words "particular election," to include any particular meeting held before a vacancy or a Dissolution?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)Certainly, if the meeting is in view of any particular election. There was no line drawn by a vacancy or Dissolution.
MR. GORSTasked, whether, if any individual or association were to pay for the expenses of a meeting held for the promotion of the candidature of a particular candidate, that would not be an infringement of the Act?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)said, he had some difficulty in following the Question; and as it was purely hypothetical, he would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman to put it on the Paper.
§ MR. ONSLOWgave Notice that, in view of the importance of this subject, he would put further Questions to the hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General.