§ (1) All existing election laws relating to the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Members thereof shall, so far as applicable and subject to the provisions of this Act, and especially to any provision enabling the Parliaments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland to alter those laws as respects the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively, extend to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland and the Members thereof.
§ (2) His Majesty may, by Order in Council, make such provisions as may appear to him necessary or proper for making any provisions of the election laws applicable to elections of Members of the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI would like to ask a question about this Clause. Sub-section (1) refers to all existing election laws and Sub-section (2) to Orders in Council. The first Sub-section seems straightforward and reasonable, if there be anything reasonable in this Bill, but the second Sub-section requires some explanation from those who drafted it.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYYou agree to them. I do not want to crab the right hon. Gentleman, but I should like to know what is behind it all. What kind of Orders in Council are intended? It is a very wide Sub-section, and some explanation of it is due, so that the Committee may express its opinion.
Captain CRAIGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the question of 1218 the expenses of elections, which, it seems to me, would probably come under this Clause, has been considered by the Government. It will be remembered that under proportional representation the county will be the unit. If the expenses of candidates are calculated at so much per head of the electorate, as at present, these sums will be very heavy. In this country the expenses are not so large. If the expenses of every candidate in Ireland are calculated at the same rate as at present, they will be three or four times as high as in an ordinary constituency.
§ Mr. LONGMy hon. and gallant Friend has really given the information for which the hon. and gallant Member opposite (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) asked. This power was in the Act of 1914, and is intended to enable any ordinary alterations to be made that have to be made in order to make the law conform with the requirements in regard to elections. It is obvious that there will have to be some readjustment, and this enables an Order in Council to be issued making such ordinary readjustments as are necessary to make it applicable.