§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, By whose authority, and at whose request, was the election of Chairman, at the Athlone Board of Guardians postponed from the 29th March to the 5th of April; and, is it the fact that this election takes place in the neighbouring unions on the 29th March, and was it for the purpose of enabling ex-officio guardians, who attended these other unions on the 29th March to vote for the 1480 Tory candidate, to attend at Athlone, on the 5th of April, to vote for Lord Castle-maine, that this change was made?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the election of Chairman was not postponed. It could not legally be hold on the 29th of March, three days not having elapsed since the return of the Guardians of the Union. There is no foundation for the suggestion in the 2nd paragraph of the Question.
§ MR. TREVELYANIt was postponed in order to comply with the law.
§ MR. HEALYMy Question is—[Cries of "Order, order !"]—At whose request was this election postponed for several days? I am entitled to an answer. ["Order, order!"] The Question has been now on the Paper several days.
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. TREVELYANI am informed that neither Lord Castlemaine nor anyone on his behalf made any suggestion about fixing the election for the 5th of April.
§ MR. HEALYDid he make a request that it should not be held on the 29th of March? [Loud cries of "Order, order !"] I am perfectly in Order. The House did not object a while ago to 10 minutes' talk about the Duke of Wellington's Statue; and in spite of the interruptions of hon. Members opposite, or the sneers of the Home Secretary— [Loud cries of "Order, order !"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put his Question, and not make these remarks.