§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a measure for carrying into effect the recommendation unanimously made by the Select Committee on the Ballot Act in their Report of last Session, in favour of removing the conflicts which exist between English, Scotch, and Irish legal decisions as to the marking of ballot papers?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSir, before the present Ballot Act expires the whole subject of the Ballot will have to be carefully re-considered by Parliament. Till the time for this re-consideration arrives the Government are reluctant to disturb in any way the working of the present Act, for they feel that it would be difficult to frame provisions as to the marking of Ballot papers more simple or less open to diversity of construction than those of the Act of 1872. There have, no doubt, been some differences between the English, Irish, and Scotch Courts in their interpretation of the law, but these differences do not appear to have given rise to much practical inconvenience. The suggestions of the Select Committee of last year will, no doubt, be carried into effect when the Ballet Act is continued, if it should be ultimately determined to continue it.