HC Deb 12 April 1888 vol 324 cc1035-6
MR. BYRNE (Wicklow, W.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the statement in The Leinster Leader of the 7th instant, in reference to the recent election of Guardians for the Baltinglass Union, that an ex-Guardian and a candidate, W. R. Douglas, commanded the rate collector, Mr. Driver, to put a false date to a receipt for rates, in order to give a qualification to one John Plant, in the following terms:—

"Confidential.

"5th March, 1888.

"Dear Mr. Driver,

"John Plant, of Ballyhubbock, has been nominated (in case Mr. Wynne succeeds in Stratford). See that his receipt for the Eadestown rates is dated 3rd March. The money is ready any time you call for it.

'Mr. Dennis asked me this morning to write to you about it.

"Yours very truly,

"W. R. Douglas."

whether the Mr. Dennis referred to is Mr. E. A. Dennis, the present Chairman of the Baltinglass Board of Guardians; and, whether he will order an inquiry into the facts?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

, in reply, said, he was informed no such letter was received by the rate collector referred to.

MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman able to state the letter was not written?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No; I am not able to state that.

MR. CLANCY

asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether he would order a sworn inquiry into the circumstances, especially as an offer had been made to prove the genuineness of the letter at such inquiry, and that the offer had been rejected by the man incriminated.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he understood there was no letter of the character referred to in the Question at all received by the person mentioned.

MR. CLANCY

I must press this matter a little further, as it is most important. An allegation has been made that this letter was written, and it was not delivered because it was intercepted. An offer was made to establish its genuineness at a sworn inquiry, and the offer was rejected by a majority of the Baltinglass Guardians at the suggestion of the person incriminated.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

did not reply.