NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PARLIAMENT was dissolved on the 18th inst., and in most districts the days for the new elections have been fixed. It is greatly to be regretted that they are spread over so long a period, as it would not have been difficult to bring them all within the compass of a week. As it is, it will be December 10th, nearly three weeks hence, before the returns will be accurately known. A great number will, however, be known by Monday week, especially those for London, and for many of the districts of Lancashire. They will be useful guides ; but in this Election almost everything will depend on the rural districts, whose returns will often come in almost last of all and in little driblets, districts within the same county having taken pains to fix days wide apart. We believe that part of the delay is due to a difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of competent deputies for the returning officer ; but much of it is, we suspect, due to an idea as to the comparative advantage of early or late returns as influencing distant voting. The con- tinuous excitement is not good for the country, and we hope when the new Registration scheme comes forward Liberals will insist on more polling-places, and a shorter period of time for the elections.
