The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

The new Act to regulate the expenses and to con- I
trol the charges of Returning Officers at Parlia-
mentary elections came into force on the Ist of
October. The Ballot Act, 1872, is to be construed as
one with the present statute. The Returning Officer
at an election is to be entitled to his reasonable charges
not exceeding the sums mentioned in the schedule,
and the amount of such charges is to be paid by
the candidates in equal several shares, and where
there is only one candidate by such candidate. If a
candidate is nominated without his consent, the persons
by whom Isis nomination is subscribed are to be
jointly and severally liable for the share of the charges
for which he would be liable if nominated with his
consent. "A Returning Officer shall not be entitled
to payment for any other services or expenses or at
any greater rates than as in the said schedule men-
tioned, any law or usage to the contrary notwith-
standing." Security may be required by a Returning
Officer for the charges which may be incurred, which
security to vary from £lOO to £l,OOO, according to the
registered electors. If at the end of the two hours
appointed for the election not more candidates stand
nominated than there are vacancies to be filled up,
the maximum amount which may be required' to he
one-fifth of the scale set forth in the schedule in
counties and boroughs. Within 21 days after the re-
turn the Returning Officer is to furnish a detailed
account and to state where the vouchers may be seen,
and within 14 'days the same may be taxed by the
Lord Mayor's Court for the City of London, and else-
where in England the'County Courts, and nothing in
the section is to apply to the charge of the Returning
Officer for publication of accounts of election expenses.
The determination of the Court to be final, and may
be enforced as judgment in an action with or without
costs. Claims against a Returning Officer are to be
made within 14 days of the return or to, be barred.
Where practicable the ballet boxes of municipal elec-
tions and School Boards are to be used in Parlia-
mentary elections. The Act is not to apply to Univer-
sities or to Scotland, but to England and Ireland, nor
to continue in force longer than from the Ist inst. to the
31st of December, 1880, unless Parliament otherwise
determine.
The first schedule contains the maximum charges to
be made by Returning Officers :—For preparing and
publishing the notice of elections, £2 2s. ; for supply-
ing the nomination papers, £1 is. ; and for travelling,
is. per mile; for constructing a polling station, with
its fittings, &c., in England, £7 75.; for each ballot
box to be purchased, 21 is., and when hired, 55.; for
stationery at each polling station, 10s., and for ballot
papers per thousand, 10e, ; for a presiding officer,
£3 is.. and a guinea for each clerk. The other ex-
penses tia regard to county elections are specified in
proportion to electors, and with regard to borough
elections the expenses are after the same scale, with
full particulars as to the charges to be made, which
will in future elections considerably reduce the ex-
penses of candidates in respect to Returning Officers in
England and Ireland. According to the schedule the
fee to a presiding officer in a county is £3 is., and in- a
borough, £3 3s.

A " centenarian " of a new type has died at London,
Ontario. Her name was Miss Lucy Patrick, and over 100
direct descendants of hers are living to call her blessed.