lready conferred or to come,
should not enter as a disturbing element affecting a man's political
action. There is much to be said for the rule that acceptance of an
office of profit under the Crown vacates a seat in the House of Commons.
The rule should apply to the acceptance of any honour. Perhaps an
exception might be made allowing a limited number of members, who had
served at least ten years in Parliament, to be placed on the Privy
Council on the advice of a Select Committee of the House. Such a course
would strengthen the Privy Council by the addition of experienced men
who had won the respect of their fellow-members irrespective of party,
but had never taken office. An appointment so made would neither be the
reward of docility or assiduity in attending divisions, nor a
prophylactic against too critical tongues; it would be a mark of respect
from those whom long association had given the means of judging. There
are some men in every Parliament whose high character and unobtrusive
work through a long period of service have won the special regard of
their fellow-members, even though opposed to them in politics, and an
opportunity of expressing that feeling would be welcomed. The selection
would be a real honour, and would be bestowed in recognition of
independence of character and steady useful work. Peerages might still
be conferred on the advice of the Prime Minister, as a peerage renders
the recipient incapable of sitting in the House of Commons, and the
existence of Ministries does not depend on votes in the Lords.

(2) The party whips ought to have nothing to do with the conferment of
honours of any kind, whether on members of the House of Commons or
others. The considerations which must be uppermost in the mind of a
whip, whose duty it is to fill the division lobbies for his party, ought
not to affect the fountain of honour.

(3) The accounts of the party associations ought to be published. It may
be right for well-to-do people who feel keenly on political questions to
contribute to help party organisation, to aid in providing the money
necessary to enable promising men, who have not the means for paying
their own election expenses, to contest a seat and to enter Parliament.
There is nothing derogatory to a candidate in accepting assistance of
the kind. Many men who were unable to fight an election without it,
would prefer to have it openly stated that they had received such
assistance. Why should a young m