17 OCTOBER 1908, Page 18

rTO THE EDITOR OP Till "SPEOTA.TOR.".1 SIR,—Is there any real

reason why candidates or Members should not be forbidden by law to give to charities, &c., in their constituencies ? The object of such gifts is merely to buy the favour of the electors ; and there is really no reason why they should be allowed to be bought in the mass when it is illegal to buy them individually. Probably an exception would have to be made to allow the continuance of sub- scriptions by persons who are bond-fide residents in the place, and have not gone there merely in order to become candidates.