THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES AT GUERNSEY 1924.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 369, 18 March 1926, Page 6

THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES AT GUERNSEY 1924.

ExcitciiL**ut at election time hud nevtr been ho acute nor vacancies .v«» keenly conte. ited, as at tin* election of eighteen de >uties in January of this year for seats in tlie States of Guernsey, as the local Parliament is (•xl.ed. This election takes place every three years, and all members are eligible for re-election. I was fully convinced when asked to stand that a local reporter would come and interview me as he did others three .wars ago—in my own home, and by my own fireside. Hut no! the electors this January were tar more searching in their demands. First and foremost, all candidates who really wanted to be successful had to publish a “manifesto” in the local papers, and then —much more terrifying—hire a hall and face the music. Three of us —1 the only lady—hired the Masonic Hall, expecting just a few, but we w'ere crowded out, and had to hold an overflow meeting, and

submit to bombardments by anxious supporters and otherwise. One inquisitive old gentleman asked me, What a)H>ut the Divorce Laws?” We iiave none here, and not wishing to implicate myself either side, I responded: “That, Sir, I leaw to the married people to decide,” and made my exit, amidst a roar of laughter. We have not yet arrived at the time when a house-to-house visitation is necessary; most probably because the districts are small, and practically every one who has resided hen* for a few years knows all about the candidate —age, parentage, social position, qualifications and views. I f**lt that after my Masonic meeting my fate was sealed, and it was useless to worry, so thoroughly enjoyed myself at the other meetings I attended. By January Ist, the day of the poll, I was excited, but resigned, and you may well imagine the huge surprise I had when the Bailiff (the President of the State's) appeared on the steps of the Court House just after four o'clock on February Ist, and announced the result. T was second on the list of eighteen candidates, with 1,042 votes to my credit and the only lady elected. MARIE RANDALL, In Juo Suffragii.