HC Deb 23 May 1881 vol 261 cc1060-1
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the manner in which the annual election of Poor Law Guardians for Cromae Ward, in the Borough of Belfast, has been conducted for the present year; if it be true, as disclosed in evidence before the magistrates at petty sessions, in Belfast, on the 13th May instant, that the policeman entrusted with the delivery and collection of voting papers at said election was guilty of grave neglect in the discharge of his duty, by failing to collect voting papers in the houses of several of the streets in which he had laid them down, and in other districts having called at the residence of the voters at ten or eleven o'clock at night, when many of them had retired to bed; if it be true that the policeman in company with Mr. James R. Christian, one of the succesful candidates, under their system of election, entered a public-house in the said ward, and partook of refreshments, and whilst thus regaling themselves, is it true that the parcel of collected voting papers then in the constable's possession were opened, examined, and altered by the said Mr. Christian, or one of his agents, who was also present; and, if any or all of these assumptions be accurate, will he take into consideration the form in which the last election for the Poor Law Guardians for Cromae was conducted?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, the Vice President of the Local Government Board informs me that there appears to have been some irregularity in distribution in connection with the voting papers; but the Board do not think that they should exercise their powers under the 23rd section of the Act 67 Vict. c. 92. I requested a communication from the Inspector of Constabulary in Ireland with reference to the misconduct of the police-constable on the occasion. I have not yet received his Report, and therefore I cannot say whether it will be necessary for me to bring the matter under the notice of the Local Government Board or not. I perceive, from the newspaper report referred to, that the magistrates before whom the police constable was brought on the charge of neglect acquitted him.