TOTAL DISFRANCHISEMENT
SIR,—The disfranchisement of Parliamentary electors is only partial, as those electors on the existing register are qualified to vote for candidates at by-elections. Qualified Local Government electors, however, are
entirely disfranchised, and any casual vacancies on local Councils are filled in accordance with the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1939. That Act provides that casual vacancies on local Councils shall be filled " by the Council among the members of which the vacancy has so occurred."
This, in practice, has been found to be very unsatisfactory, as local electors are entirely muzzled. As an example, I mention a recent case in this district where the local organisation which had nominated the retiring candidate also nominated his successor. Nevertheless, the Council afterwards advertised for nominations, five of which were duly handed in. Of these five candidates the council did not consider the qualifications of any in open meeting, and 'the candidate first proposed was elected, as anticipated. If the electors had had an opportunity of voting, the qualifications of the five candidates would, of course,- have been considered.
In view of the depletion of members of local Councils through war service, &c., local electors should at least be entitled to vote for new members, and should not be totally disfranchised as at present. Neither should any local Council be allowed to elect its own members.—
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