§ MR. MELLORasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to a Memorial from Spalding, stating that before the last School Board Election there an agreement had been come to between all parties that the old Board should be returned; that the returning officer, without any notice, treated the chairman, vice chairman, and one other member of the old Board as disqualified, although they were duly nominated, and did this without hearing them in support of their claims, declaring three other candidates duly elected in their stead; and, whether the Department can investigate the matter under section 33 of the Act of 1870?
§ MR. MUNDELLAMy attention has been directed to the Memorial from Spalding to which the Question of my hon. Friend refers; but I cannot undertake to make the investigation suggested. I agree with the opinion first expressed by the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and followed by my immediate 1500 Predecessors, that the Education Department does not possess the machinery necessary for satisfactorily trying Election Petitions; and that any person who complains of the action of the returning officer must adopt the ordinary remedy of an information in the nature of a quo warranto.