§ MR. SEXTONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he has received a Copy of the following Resolution, unanimously adopted at the last meeting of the Sligo Board of Guardians:—
That this Board urge on the Government the necessity and justice of returning to Sligo its representation in the Imperial Parliament, of which it was deprived many years ago; and that we respectfully request the Government 1117 to take the matter into consideration in any scheme of Redistribution which they may introduce this Session of Parliament, particularly so as the population, the trade, and general importance of Sligo has vastly increased since the Borough was disfranchised, Sligo being now the most important town in the West of Ireland;whether he is aware that a Resolution, identical in import, has been adopted by the Corporation of Sligo; and, whether, in view of the lapse of time, nearly twenty years, since the disfranchisement of Sligo, the growth of a new constituency there, the increasing population and importance of the town, and the almost total lack of urban representation in the province of Connaught, he will include in his forthcoming Redistribution Bill a proposal to re-enfranchise the Borough of Sligo?
MR. GLADSTONEI do not complain of the hon. Member, or challenge the propriety of his asking this Question; but I think he will see that I cannot say more than that the case of Sligo shall be fairly considered. If I did say more, it is quite obvious it would be regarded by every community in the country as premature.