3 JANUARY 1941, Page 7

Perhaps there are two main reasons for this state of

things: the cost in money—and time—of getting elected, and secondly, the nature and methods of Parliamentary business. It is im- possible to defend the auctioning of seats, which affects both the Conservative and Liberal parties. The root question, how- ever, is, should the fixed election expenses of all candidates depend on " interests," trade unions, co-operative societies, private wealth, or should the State pay expenses, as it pays salaries?

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