HC Deb 02 July 1888 vol 328 cc56-7
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that a very considerable number of occupiers in the neighbourhood of Ramelton, in the Unions of Letterkenny and Milford, in County Donegal, have not been duly served with requisitions in the form prescribed by Statute, though the period for the filling up and returning such forms has already expired; and, whether he will cause steps to be taken to secure that the electors concerned shall be placed upon the list of voters without the loss of time and money involved in attendance at the Revision Court?

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

The Clerk of Milford Union reports that in the East Donegal Division polling district of Ramelton the requisition forms were served on tenants to return names of inhabitant occupiers, and on landlords to return names of labourers, &c. He also states that those persons in the rate book rated at and over £4 who had paid their rates early in May were not served, as their names were duly recorded on the list of voters in preparation for the current year. The Clerk further reports that when the list is fully made out and returned to the Clerk of the Peace for revision it will be found to contain all the names of persons resident in the east polling district of Rameltown, also such as have not paid their rates will be given, with the marginal objections before such names, giving them an opportunity of appearing and sustaining their claims by proving payment of rates, or otherwise. The Clerk of Letterkenny Union states that he is informed by the poor rate collectors that all rated occupiers in the Union were duly served, within the statutable period, with requisition forms, as required by Section 9, Sub-section 3, of the Representation of the People Act, 1884.

MR. T. C. HARRINGTON (Dublin, Harbour)

asked, if the Clerk of the Union had taken care to see that subtenants of ratepayers were placed on the list?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

required Notice of the Question.

MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

asked, if the rate collector exercised his own discretion as to whom he should or should not serve?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was afraid he could not answer that Question.