HC Deb 30 June 1884 vol 289 cc1669-70
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in reference to the supplementary election for the Macloneigh Electoral Division of the Macroom Poor La w Union, the Local Government Board will direct that the election should be conducted by a new returning officer, in view of the charge that the returning officer at the late election was absent from his office during the days when the voting papers were collected, an irregularity for which, under the twentieth paragraph of the Circular of the Pool-Law Commissioners, dated 17th January 1854, he is liable to censure or dismissal, and in view of the further fact that the said returning officer is the nephew of one of the candidates?

MR. TREVELYAN

The Local Government Board do not consider that there are grounds for superseding the Returning Officer of Macroom Union, and appointing another person to perform that duty; and the supplemental election is now proceeding. It is true that the Returning Officer absented himself from his office on two days during the last election; but the Board trust that this irregularity will not occur again. The Board are not aware whether the Returning Officer is related to one of the candidates; but, even if that should be the case, the circumstance would not afford any sufficient reason for removing him from his office.