POOR LAW (IRELAND)—ELECTION OF GUARDIANS FOR THE CORK UNION. (Hansard, 20 April 1883)

MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will reconsider his determination to leave the law as regards a solicitor's right of audience before a Poor Law returning officer in its present unsatisfactory condition; whether in the case in which the returning officer at the recent election of guardians for the Cork Union refused to hoar the solicitor for one of the candidates, it is the fact that such refusal was announced immediately on its being intimated that the candidate in question wished to appear by solicitor, and before the solicitor had any opportunity of even stating what questions of law he considered were involved; whether he is aware that as a matter of fact two serious questions of law arose out of the election in question, and that in consequence of the action of the returning officer these questions had to be submitted direct to the Local Government Board, who are at present making inquiries with reference to them; whether, seeing that the solicitor in question alleges that the returning officer refused to hear him on any question whatsoever, the returning officer can explain his statement that the solicitor tried to enter into questions of law which were not involved in the dispute at all, and will state what such questions were, as the solicitor alleges that this statement is absolutely false; whether, seeing that where questions of law are even admittedly involved, Poor Law returning 744 officers have the exceptional power of refusing to hear legal questions argued by lawyers, he will consider the desirability of the law on this point being left in its present condition; and, whether it is the case that the Local Government Board have the power under the existing law, by a simple amendment of their election order, to direct that returning officers should allow candidates to be represented by legal practitioners when any legal questions are to be discussed?