§ MR. ALEXANDER BLANE (Armagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it be true that Messrs. Joseph W. Robb and Adam S. Weir, officials in the Belfast Workhouse, took an active and prominent part at the last Parliamentary Election for the Southern Division of Belfast, and that they received payment for their valuable services at that election; whether they requested and obtained leave of absence from their ordinary duties, without any deduction from their salaries, by the Guardians of the Belfast Union; whether they will be 1278 called upon to refund the money so obtained; and, what notice will be taken regarding their representation to the Guardians of the Belfast Union, to whom they alleged they wanted holidays?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)A similar Question respecting these two officials was asked some time since by the hon. Member regarding other elections, and my answer now is the same as on that occasion; that the facts are substantially as stated; that the officers obtained leave for the purpose; that the Local Board have taken action which they trust will prevent the Union officers from acting in similar capacities for the future.