5 MARCH 1910, Page 2

In setting forth these principles, which we hope may be

approve I by the House of Lords, we have two comments to make. We are well aware that it may be said of indirect election by the County Councils that it would bring politics far more into county and municipal elections than at present. Men will tend to regard County and Town Councillors not merely as administrators, but also as men who choose the Upper House, and will therefore hold it necessary to vote on the party ticket rather than on the ground of personal capacity. That no doubt is an evil, but on the other hand indirect election has a good deal to be said for it. One point which appeals to us is the fact that it would not be necessary to divide the United Kingdom into new electoral areas, a matter always fraught with much difficulty and with dangers of gerrymandering.