Electoral Reform On Friday, December 19th, the Government presented their
Electoral Reform Bill. It introduces the Alternative Vote and for the rest proposes to divide two-member constituencies, to abolish University constituencies and the " business premises " qualification, to facilitate voting by those who have changed their residence, to enable polls to be postponed in constituencies which are separated from the mainland, to regulate the use of vehicles at elections, and to reduce the maximum scale of expenses. In our first leading article we have dis- cussed the intimate relations between this Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill. The policy of the Liberal Party, for whose benefit the Alternative Vote is introduced, is not yet decided. Mr. Lloyd George has spoken in favour of the Alternative Vote as better than nothing, and probably a sufficient number of Liberals will follow his advice and help the Government to survive.
