§ 24. Viscount ELMLEYasked the Home Secretary if he will consider the altera- 1133 tion of Rule 12 for the election of parish councillors whereby such an election takes place by a show of hands?
§ Mr. CLYNESThis matter has been carefully considered on many occasions, but no satisfactory method of voting at the parish meeting has so far been suggested, which could be substituted—as the law stands at present—for the show of hands. The subject was considered by the Royal Commission on Local Government, which suggested alternative methods of election. Legislation would be required to give effect to these suggestions and I do not see my way to undertake this at present.
§ Mr. MARCHDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is nearly time that these parish councils were abolished, as has been done in the London boroughs?
§ Mr. CLYNESThis matter scarcely arises out of the question.
19. Captain WALLACEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a candidate who contested the four Hornsey Divisions in the recent county council elections, where he received a total poll of only 64 votes; whether he is aware that the cost to the ratepayers was approximately £280; and whether the Government will consider the introduction of legislation to provide that all candidates at county council elections shall make a deposit of money which shall be forfeited if they fail to obtain a certain percentage of the votes cast?
§ Mr. SHORTThe attention of my right hon. Friend had not previously been drawn to this case. As stated in reply to previous questions on the subject, the question of requiring a deposit to be made in the case of local elections has been considered more than once, but it has been found that considerable divergence of opinion exists as to the desirability of doing so. The case, however, to which the hon. Member draws attention is certainly a striking one and my right hon. Friend will look into the matter again.