The Howie of Commons hae been Occupied all the Week
with the discussion in Committee of the PluralVoting Bill. No amendments were carried, but Mr. Harcourt made certain concessions, such as that a model notice of selection should be prepared and set out in the schedule, and that voters. who after. sending in their notice discovered that they had an additional qualification should be allowed to make a fresh selection. A plural voter who has been abroad or in- capacitated by illness will be allowed to select after the closing date. On Tuesday an interesting point was raised as to the practice of legislating by reference, penalties under the Bill being determined by a reference to the Corrupt Practices Act. On Wednesday Mr. Harcourt accepted an amendment providing that no proceedings should be taken under the Act except on the fiat of the Attorney-General. After this the discussion ebbed away, and at half-past nine the Bill was reported. The Opposition have fought the measure with great persistence and skill on points of technical detail. We could wish, however, that the main objection had been dearly stated,—the fact that this measure of electoral reforni hail been passed alone, and not in company with "One vote one value." If the Opposition had confined themselves to this, and then allowed the Bill to pass without obstruction, they would have made the task of the House of Lords more easy.
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