§ LORD PANMURE, in moving that the House go into Committee on this Bill, said its object was to diminish the time for polling at elections for counties in Scotland. He was sure their Lordships would agree with him, that the shorter they could make the period during which the excitement of an election was carried on, the better, both for the candidates and for the morality of the electors. What he proposed to do by the present Bill had been already done for England. The main proposition was, with one single exception, to restrict the polling in counties entirely to one day; but inasmuch as when the Reform Bill was passed the polling places were definitively fixed and limited in number, it became necessary, in restricting the polling to one day, to increase the number of polling places; and, in consequence of certain changes which had taken place in various towns and villages, it was proposed not only to increase the number, but to alter the localities of some of the polling places. The power of selection was to be placed in the hands of the sheriff, on petition of the electors, but subject to the consent of the Lord Advocate. He thought it would hardly be right to leave the matter entirely to the control of the local judges; but that the final decision should rest with the Lord 553 Advocate as the representative of the Crown. That arrangement had been sanctioned by a large majority in the other House, and he was not aware that it could be reasonably objected to.
§ House in Committee.
§ Clause 1 agreed to.
§ On Clause 2,
§ The EARL of EGLINTONsaid, that the Lord Advocate of the day was in general supposed to be a very strong political partisan, and he should, therefore, suggest the propriety of leaving to the sheriffs the power of altering the polling localities when they pleased.
§ LORD PANMUREwas of opinion that the appointment of the Lord Advocate was not more a political appointment than that of any other man connected with the Government; and he felt assured that that officer, in conjunction with the sheriffs, would act in a manner that would be found just and fair towards all parties.
LORD CAMPBELLsaid, there was no doubt that the Lord Advocate must be supposed to be a very warm political partisan, but such, in his opinion, must the sheriffs also be considered.
§ The EARL of EGLINTONcalled the attention of the noble Lord to that part of the clause which provided that not more than 300 electors should be allowed to poll at any such election at any one place. Did that mean that not more than 300 should be allowed to poll, or that not more than 300 should be on the roll?
§ LORD PANMUREsaid, the object of the clause was to provide that not more than 300 electors should be on the roll at any one polling place.
§ Clause agreed to; as also the other clauses.
§ Bill reported with Amendment; and to be read 3a To-morrow.