In the House of Commons on Wednesday the old question
of disfranchising paupers from the election of Guardians was raised again. Members of all parties showed some agreement about the illogicality of dis- franchising local voters and leaving Parliamentary voters untouched. The Home Secretary pointed out that when the pauper disqualification was removed in 1918 there was an admitted doubt whether it ought not to be retained for local elections, on the ground that every elector ought to be free and independent. Nevertheless, its reimposition would restore many injustices, because disqualification depended " not on the ethics of the pauper, but the time he was one." It was better, therefore, to punish the giver rather than the recipient of bribes, and better still to abolish the temptation either to give or to receive. He was gratified to learn that the reform of the Poor Law which would effect this abolition would have the support of the Socialists. Mr. Harvey then withdrew his motion.
Previous page
