Motor-Cars.

Oral Answers to Questions — Parliamentary Elections – in the House of Commons at on 5 December 1935.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr George Hicks Mr George Hicks , Woolwich East

asked the Home Secretary whether, as the use of motor-cars which are on the hire-purchase system for the purpose of conveying electors to the poll is apparently a contravention of the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883, he is prepared to advise returning officers in future to this effect?

Photo of Mr John Simon Mr John Simon , Spen Valley

I have no jurisdiction to determine what is or what is not an offence under the Corrupt Practices Act, but I may say that I should consider the interpretation of the Act contained in this question to be very questionable, for it would seem that what that Act refers to is the hiring or letting of carriages for the purpose of conveying electors to or from the poll. In any case these questions have nothing to do with the dares of returning officers.

Photo of Mr George Hicks Mr George Hicks , Woolwich East

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a monstrous abuse of democracy that hundreds of motor-cars can be introduced into a constituency for one candidate and denied to the other candidate? Does he not think it is a monstrous abuse of equal opportunities?