Testimonies

Testimonies

• 285.

  And 1874 ? – Yes.

• 286.

  As compared with the election of 1874, was there any increase in the show of FLAGS ? – Certainly.

• 287.

  Did you observe a great employment of conveyances going on ? – On the day of the election I was scarcely in the town more than a quarter of an hour. There were certainly CARRIAGES flying about in all directions ; FLYS.

• 288.

  In Deal we have heard there are three polling districts ? – Yes.

• 289.

  Where are they situated in the town ; how far would a voter have to go ? – One was here, another was at the National Schools, and the third was at the Parochial Schools near the railway station.

• 290.

  Of course they were appointed by you ? – Yes.

• 291.

  As a general rule I suppose there was no necessity for the conveyance of voters to the polling place ? – Well, I should suppose the utmost distance might be a mile.

• 292.

  We have had given to us the members at the previous election at which the Liberals were successful. Can you account for the majority for Mr. Roberts, as against the previous majority for the Liberals ? – I think it is only a matter of opinion. We considered ourselves well represented by our late members, Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen and Mr. Brassey. I think they had the confidence of the constituency.

• 293.

  They had ? – They had certainly. At this election they were independent altogether ; they were neither of them candidates, and probably that may have had some influence ; the change of sides.

• 294.

  The voters did not abstain from voting but went over to the Conservatives ? – I think several of the gentlemen who were not of the way of thinking of Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen, voted for him because he was much respected.

• 295.

  Did you observe that at the last election the number of officials employed were more than in 1874 ? – I really cannot answer that question. I took no part in either election, but I do not think there was much difference. I imagine they were pretty much the same.

• 296.

  Did you on the day of the election see much drunkenness going on ? – No ; and I should have known it as clerk to the magistrates, I do not think there was a single case, if my memory is right. I do not remember an instance. It was particularly quiet in that respect.

• 297.

  You were surprised yourself, I suppose, at the result of the election ? – Well, I was. I was not surprised at the result. I expected the result would have been so, but I was surprised at the number.

• 298.

  I think you said that the greater number of the population of Deal are composed of boatmen ? – Not the greater number ; a great number.

• 299.

  A large proportion ? – I am unable to say, but still a very large proportion get their living on the water by assisting the ships. Of course there is a good deal of lodging letting, and I should say that a great many of the public houses let lodgings as well.

• 300.

  Do you agree with Mr. Surrage as to the number of freemen of Deal ? (Mr. Surrage.) There are about 13 living at Deal. They are all freemen of Sandwich ; not freemen of Deal. They happened to be residing at Deal those few days. (The Witness.) We have no right to freemen here. There are freemen at Sandwich.

• 301.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Deal has no freemen of its own ? – No.

• 302.

  (Mr. Turner.) I have asked you about the boating class. With regard to what you call the “along shore” men, are they men who change their residence very much, and go about a good deal ? – No.

• 303.

  Are they resident here ? – Entirely.

• 304.

  There are no class of men of that kind who are migratory ? – No, they were born and bred here ; in fact they will not go away. They prefer keeping on the beach here to going to sea very often.

• 305.

  Are they a hard-working class of men ? – Certainly. They are always on the look out ; always on the watch. They are always on the qui vive.

• 306.

  Are they men who are hard up a good deal ? – I dare say a great many of them are.

• 307.

  Out of work, I mean ? – Yes, at times when there is little doing on the water of course they are in want to some extent. Their living depends entirely upon that.

• 308.

  (Mr. Jeune.) I suppose there are certain PUBLIC-HOUSES they frequent, do they not ? – Those particularly on the beach.

• 309.

  Have these boating people the name of a corrupt class ? – I do not think so. They are like everybody else, I suppose. I am not aware that they are specially different from any of the rest of the population.

• 310.

  I mean at previous elections where there has been money spent ; do you think that more of that money has gone to the boating population than to the rest of the population ? – I cannot say. I never take any part in the elections myself, and know nothing of the working of them.

• 311.

  (Mr. Holl.) Are they a class of men who are likely to be influenced by having a good deal of work given to them in hauling FLAGS ? – I can hardly say that they would be more so than anybody else. They are fond of FLAGS, and showing their colours.

• 312.

  Is it the flag, or what they get out of it ? – I must leave that to you. I am not able to answer that question. I daresay they do not do it for love. They are like everybody else.

• 313.

  I am not quite sure that I understand one thing. You spoke of 30 licensed premises as distinguished from 74 licensed houses ; 14 of those are beer-houses, what are the other 16 ? – They are grocers licenses.

• 314.

  They are grocers who have licenses to sell beer, wine, and so on ? – Just so. They are refreshment houses for the sale of Gilbey’s wines, &c.