The Government of England Part 25

[221:1] "In one only of the three kingdoms the ballot helped to make a truly vital difference; it dislodged the political power of the Irish landlord. In England its influence made for purity, freedom, and decency, but it developed no new sources of liberal strength." Morley, "Gladstone," II., 370. But the ballot is also said to have slowly strengthened the Liberal party in English rural districts by s.h.i.+elding the agricultural labourer.

[221:2] 35-36 Vic., c. 33, ---- 27, 31. Rogers, II., 118.

[221:3] 24-25 Vic., c. 53.

[221:4] Com. Papers, 1881, x.x.xVIII.-XLV.

[222:1] Com. Papers, 1881, XLIII., XLV., and schedules to these reports.

[222:2] 46-47 Vic., c. 51.

[222:3] _Ibid._, -- 3.

[222:4] 17-18 Vic., c. 102, ---- 2, 3.

[223:1] Hexham Div., 4 O'M. & H., 143, at 147. After the general election of 1906 a member was unseated on this ground. Bodmin Div., 5 O'M. & H., 225.

[223:2] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 1.

[223:3] _Ibid._, -- 2.

[223:4] Rogers, II., 316-19.

[223:5] So. Meath & No. Meath, 4 O'M. & H., 130, 185.

[223:6] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 6.

[224:1] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 4.

[224:2] _Ibid._, -- 5.

[224:3] In the return of election expenses the candidate and his agent must declare that to the best of their knowledge or belief no person, club, society, or a.s.sociation has made any payment in respect to the conduct of the election. _Ibid._, Sched. 2. But this merely requires them to take care to be ignorant of any such payment.

[224:4] c.o.c.kermouth Div., 5 O'M. & H., 155. St. George's Div., 5 O'M. & H., 89, at 97-98. In the first of these cases the treating was done by a Liberal Unionist a.s.sociation; in the second by an Irish Unionist Alliance.

[224:5] Lancaster Div., 5 O'M. & H., 39, at 42-43.

[225:1] Walsall, 4 O'M. & H., 123, per Pollock B, at 124.

[225:2] _Ibid._

[225:3] Rogers, II., 293, 308, 325-329, 335.

[225:4] A false statement in the return of election expenses, if made knowingly, is a corrupt and not illegal practice. 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 33 (7).

[226:1] Here, again, there is an exception; for relief may be given in the case of treating or undue influence committed by an agent, other than the election agent, if trivial in itself, and if the candidate and his election agent did not connive at it, but took all reasonable means to prevent corrupt and illegal practices. 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 22.

[226:2] _Ibid._, -- 20

[226:3] 17-18 Vic., c. 102, -- 7.

[226:4] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, ---- 7, 14.

[227:1] And in counties a sub-agent for each polling station.

[227:2] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 17.

[227:3] _Ibid._, -- 36 and Sched. I., Part 1 (7).

[227:4] Rogers, II., 156, 160, 350.

[227:5] In counties one central committee room, and in each polling district one committee room for every five hundred voters.

[227:6] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 31.

[227:7] 38-39 Vic., c. 84; 48-49 Vic., c. 62.

[228:1] Com. Papers, 1901, LIX., 145, p. 84.

[228:2] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, Sched. I., Part IV.

[228:3] In Ireland the limit both for boroughs and counties is somewhat lower.

[228:4] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, -- 21.

[228:5] If the offence was committed with his knowledge and consent, the incapacity continues seven years. _Ibid._, -- 5.

[229:1] _Ibid._, ---- 28, 31.

[229:2] _Ibid._, -- 27.

[229:3] _Ibid._, -- 33 and Sched. II.

[229:4] 2 Ed. (1892), 14.

[229:5] II., 152-153.

[230:1] 31-32 Vic., c. 125; 42-43 Vic., c. 75; 44-45 Vic., c. 68, -- 13.

[230:2] 46-47 Vic., c. 51, ---- 4, 5, 11.

[231:1] Com. Papers, 1901, LIX., 145, p. 85.

[231:2] July 22, 26, 29, 1904.

[231:3] July 25, 1904.

[232:1] See the cases already cited in the discussion of agency.