§ MR. J. B. BALFOURsaid, he had several Amendments to propose on this Bill. As it passed through Committee, the number of 700 was fixed as the minimum number of electors to be served by one Presiding Officer and clerk. Since then he had had representations from one or two exceedingly experienced Returning Officers in Scotland, showing that in certain localities very great inconvenience might arise under this provision. In some parts of Lanarkshire the miners did not come out of the pits till 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and as there would only then be three or four hours available for voting, it was just possible that there might be a block at the polling booths. It would be a great evil if any portion of the electors should be shut out of the polls. He moved that the words "700" should be left out, and "500" inserted.
§ Amendment proposed, in page 5, line 18, to leave out "700" for the purpose of inserting "500,"—(The Lord Advocate,)—instead thereof.
§ Question proposed, "That '700' stand part of the Schedule."
§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)asked whether, in the event of the Amendment being given effect to, there would be a proportionate reduction in the expenses of each polling station?
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,said, he was quite willing to accept the view of the right hon. and learned Lord Advocate that, in certain exceptional cases, 500 should be the minimum; but he was afraid that if they simply put down 500 that number would be made the rule. He hoped the Lord Advocate would make the matter clear.
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURsaid, he proposed to guard against the danger suggested by inserting the words "regard being had to the circumstances of each locality."
§ MR. JOHN WILSON (Edinburgh, Central)said, that at the meeting which 1638 the Scotch Members had with the Lord Advocate, this question was fully discussed, and the conclusion then come to was that 500 was much too small, and that 700 was much more like the proper number. He agreed with the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy that the Returning Officer, if this proposal were adopted, would be likely to fix 500 as a general rule, and be thought it would be much better if the Lord Advocate would accept 600.
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURsaid, that the circumstances of localities varied infinitely. The case the Government desired to meet was that of the Lanarkshire mining districts, in which the miners might come up in thousands two or three hours before the closing of the poll. It had been pointed out to him that, inasmuch as political feeling ran very high, it would be most unfortunate if there was anything like a fight at the polling stations for access during the last hour or half-hour. He could imagine no greater evil than that a number of persons should in this way be debarred from voting.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLpointed out that the provision of the Schedule was not as to where 700 polled, but where there were 700 voters on the roll.
§ MR. DONALD CRAWFORD (Lanark, N.E.), speaking as the Representative of a mining constituency in Lanarkshire, expressed his opinion that the suggestion of the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. John Wilson) would meet the necessities of the case.
§ Mr. J. B. BALFOURsaid, if that were so, he would accept the suggestion.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ On the Motion of The LORD ADVOCATE, Amendment made in line 18, page 5, by substituting "600" for "700."
§ Consequential Amendments made.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLsaid, he would move an Amendment, to the effect that the sum allowed to be charged for the use of a ballot box should be reduced from £1 to 10s., as had been done on the representation of a practical man (Mr. Cremer) in the case of the English Bill.
§ Amendment proposed, in page 5, line 28, to leave out "£1 1s.," in order to 1639 insert "10s.,"—(Sir George Campbell,)—instead thereof.
§ Question proposed, "That '£1 1s.' stand part of the Schedule."
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURsaid, he would follow the precedent set in the case of the general Bill, and would accept the Amendment accordingly.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Other Amendments made.