§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What is the reason of the difficulty interposed by the Local Government Board to granting a sworn inquiry into the late election in the Cormeen Division of the Cortehill Union, respecting which so much correspondence has taken place; and, if it is the fact that in a matter of much smaller public interest the Local Government Board granted a sworn inquiry, on the application of a County Court Judge (Mr. O'Connor Morris), as to the non-collection of rates on a particular holding'? I understand now that an 801 inquiry has been granted; but it is very extraordinary that although the correspondence lasted over two months the inquiry was not granted until a Question was put in Parliament.
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the Local Government Board deferred ordering an inquiry into the Cormeen election, because they had not the necessary documents and information before them to enable them to decide whether such an inquiry was necessary. It was only a day or two ago that they received sufficient primâ facie evidence in support of the demand for an inquiry; and instructions will now be issued. With regard to the other matter referred to in the Question, the Board ordered the inquiry into the charge made by Mr. O'Connor Morris against a rate collector, because there appeared to be grounds for the complaint made. They have the Inspector's Report on the inquiry now under consideration.