§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEYI beg to ask the Attorney-General if he is aware that at the present time a large sum of money is being spent by certain persons in publishing throughout London large and expensive coloured posters urging voters to support candidates who term themselves Municipal Reformers; that such expenditure is being made in defiance of the legal limitations as to the cost of elections; and whether he can take stops to amend the law in such manner as to make this evasion of its intentions impossible.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)Before the hon. and learned Gentleman answers the Question, may I ask whether he will also consider the question of certain expenses of very highly coloured posters conveying an entirely mendacious impression of Chinamen's labour, and reflecting on the conduct of hon. Members of this House?
§ SIR JOHN WALTONI think if the expenditure has been made by a candidate or by any agent on his behalf, it can be dealt with under the provisions of the law as they now exist, but if made by some voluntary agency or other persons acting outside, the practice falls within the terms of my Answer to the previous Question.
§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEYasked whether the hon. and learned Attorney-General's attention had been directed to the extreme urgency of the Question which had arisen through incidents which had happened since he had put the Question on the Paper—namely, the buying up of men at 5s. a day for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, and the issue of large red bills which had been placed in all parts of London with regard to the tramways.
§ SIR JOHN WALTONI may say that I think that in this respect, and in other 1262 respects, the law in regard to elections needs Amendment, and I hope, sooner or later, to introduce a measure on that subject.
§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEYMay I ask whether a proper proportion of the cost of those posters ought not to be returned by the respective candidates in their respective divisions?
§ [No Answer was returned.]