MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Mr. J. A. Scott, solicitor, Gorey, and Mr. Dodd, solicitor, Wicklow, acting as the legal advisers of candidates at the election of Poor Law Guardians for the Carnew division of the Shillelagh Union, were refused admittance to the counting of votes by the returning officer, on the ground that—
He had no power under the direction of the Board of Guardians to admit any person except the candidates and their proposers;whether the brother of the returning officer in question was a successful candidate in the Carnew division; whether Mr. Swan, a Conservative Guardian, was permitted to be present at the counting of votes in other divisions besides the division for which he was elected; and, whether the Board of Guardians or the returning officer have any power to order the exclusion of the legal advisers of candidates?
§ MR. TREVELYANI only received Notice of this Question yesterday, and 1499 at once directed the Local Government Board to make the local inquiries necessary to enable me to answer it. They have done so; but sufficient time has not elapsed for the replies to come to hand.