Candles and Matches Print E-mail

There was recently a by-election in connection with the Keswick Urban Council. Five hundred and eighty three electors voted in the ward for the two candidates. The bill for the election totals £14 13s 3d, so that the cost per vote recorded is a decimal point over sixpence.
 
 
I have not available the cost of a Town Council by-election at Workington, but I venture to state that we do things differently at Workington and that the cost for each vote is considerably smaller.
 
 
The returning officer’s fee at Keswick was £3 3s; presiding officer’s, 2 2s; his polling clerk  £1 1s; his four counters, 10s 6d; ballot papers £1 12s; printing, advertising, posting, £1 12s; nomination papers, £2 8s; stationery, 18s; hire of parish room, £1 2s 6d;  joiner, 4s 6d; and fittings 1s 7d. That does not add up to £14 13s  3d. No it is two pence short.
 
 
Guess what the two pence id for. Candles and matches! What has been done with the candle portion that was not burnt or with the matches that were not struck we are not told.
 
 
I hope the returning officer, the presiding officer, the polling clerk and the four counters did not collar them. Obviously they ought to be kept like the unused nomination papers for another day.
 
 
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