§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that great inconvenience was 1629 occasioned at the last General Election, by a rule of the Board of National Education which prevents National School teachers from acting as presiding officers at polling booths at Parliamentary elections in Ireland, owing to the fact that in remote districts the local teacher was the only suitable person in the locality available for the service in question, and that in consequence presiding officers had to be imported from long distances at considerable trouble and extra expense; and whether, if so, seeing that presiding officers occupy an entirely neutral position as regards political parties, the National Board will cause the rule in question to be relaxed?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The existing rule on this subject is to the effect that National School teachers shall not take part in elections except by voting; and it is obviously desirable that the spirit of this rule should not be departed from. At the same time, the point whether a teacher, without meddling in politics or Party work of any kind, might not occupy a neutral executive position at an election, such as that suggested in the Question, is one that is worthy of consideration, and I am informed that it will be before the Board at their next meeting on the 22nd instant.