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are the Boroughs of Blackburn, Bolton, Brighton, Derby, Norwich, Oldham,
Preston, Southampton, Stockport, Sunderland and Dundee. Each of the new
constituencies will return one member.
Schemes so prepared require the approval of both Houses of Parliament and
shall take effect as from the dissolution of Parliament next following the adoption
of the Scheme, but the principle of the alternative vote shall not apply in these
boroughs until such a scheme has taken effect.
Provision is also made for the alteration or re-arrangement of the register
to meet the requirements of a scheme.
Clause 3.—This clause provides for the abolition of the qualification for a
parliamentary elector in respect of business premises for any constituency other
than the City of London, and no person shall vote at a general election for more
than one constituency.
Clause 4.—This clause provides for the abolition of the University constituencies
after the next dissolution of Parliament.
Clause 5.—This Clause makes provision for the postponement of Polls at
a Parliamentary election where a polling place situated on an island renders it
impracticable by reason of weather to convey the ballot boxes and ballot papers.
The decision is left to the discretion of the Returning Officer.
Clause 6.—This clause restricts the use of vehicles at Parliamentary elections
to the owner of the vehicle or members of his family resident with him.
Persons desirous of using their vehicles for the purpose of conveying persons
other than those mentioned above to the Poll, may, in such manner as prescribed
by Regulations of the Secretary of State, register vehicles with the Returning
Officer for the constituency in which a vehicle is to be used, and any vehicle so
registered shall be allotted by the Returning Officer for use in such manner as he,
after consultation with the Election Agents of all the candidates, thinks desirable,
having regard to the needs of the several parts of the constituency, with a view
to facilitating the conveyance of voters irrespective of party, to their polling
stations.
If any person uses any vehicle or permits any vehicle to be used in contravention
of this provision, he shall be guilty of an illegal hiring within the meaning
of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1883.
The vehicles to which this clause applies are vehicles other than those known
as public stage or hackney carriages, which are mentioned in Section 14 of the
Corrupt Practices Act.
Clause 7.—This clause makes provision for reduction of the maximum scale
of election expenses from sixpence (County) and fivepence (London) to fivepence
(County) and fourpence (London) per elector on the Register.
Juries (Exemption of Firemen) Bill.
This Bill provides for the exemption of firemen from service on special,
common and other juries. The term "firemen" is defined to include all members
of the London Fire Brigade and of any fire brigade authorised or maintained by
any local authority. It is a Private Member's Bill.
Rural Amenities Bill.
This Private Member's Bill seeks to provide for the better preservation of
rural amenities and objects of national interest.
The proposals include the amendment of the Open Spaces Act, 1906, so that
a Metropolitan Borough Council may, for the purpose of the acquisition of open
spaces for the preservation of rural amenities, purchase, take on lease, lay out,
plant, improve and maintain lands as public walks or pleasure grounds.
The Bill also provides that it shall not be lawful for any local authority or
person to deposit trade or house refuse (other than manure for agricultural
purposes) which is likely to prejudice rural amenities in any place outside the area
of such local authority without the written consent of the county council and the
district council respectively of the area comprising the place of deposit.