§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether it is true that, at a recent election of Guardians at Nottingham, Mr. G. M. Howard, the returning officer, disallowed many votes, on the ground that the signatures were in the same hand; that he impounded 300 voting papers received by him from the police; and that the former agent of a political party was found in a back room of the hotel, with other men, filling up papers for a certain candidate; and, whether, in view of the complaints of similar transactions at other local elections, the Government will introduce a measure to extend the operation of the Ballot Act to all local elections of whatever kind?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. STANSFELD) (Halifax)I understand that it is true that at the recent election of Guardians for the Nottingham Union the Returning Officer disallowed a considerable number of votes, on the ground that the signatures were in the same handwriting, and also that he received from the police 274 voting papers, which had been issued for delivery at the houses of the voters, and of which possession had been improperly obtained by certain persons. It is alleged that at the time of the voting papers being seized, one of the persons present was engaged entering on the papers the initials of voters, for which there was no legal authority, and that a considerable number had already been initialed. It is satisfactory to learn that the Guardians have directed that a prosecution shall be instituted. I believe that the grave irregularities which appear to have occurred at the election referred to are altogether exceptional; and it is to be borne in mind that the provisions of the Municipal Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Act of 1884 are applicable to elections of Guardians. With regard to the suggestion that the operation of the Ballot Act should be extended to all local elections, I can only state that this question must necessarily be considered in connection with the scheme of local government. I am personally in favour of the extension of the provisions of that Act to local elections.