§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that the rate collectors of Mountmellick Union had returned the requisition forms given to them by the clerk for service under the Representation of the People Act, on the ground that they could not undertake the work without remuneration; and, whether, in view of the very serious difficulty which is hereby revealed, the Local Government Board propose to take any steps to prevent wholesale disfranchisement, and to secure reasonable remuneration to the officers in question?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Yes. It is a fact that the collectors of the Mountmellick 1521 Union have declined to serve the notices until the remuneration they are to receive is fixed. The Local Government Board have communicated to the Clerk that this is a duty imposed on the collectors by statute, and calling attention to the fact that there is a means by which the Guardians, with the assent of the Local Government Board, can provide what remuneration they are to receive in respect of these services. Finding, however, that the collectors still persisted in their refusal, the Clerk of the Board was directed yesterday by the Local Government Board to inform these officers that if they do not serve the notices in question they will be immediately dismissed.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, supposing these officers still persist in their refusal, the Local Government Board will take steps to prevent the disfranchisement of a large number of persons in the constituency?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI will make further inquiries as to how far it is possible for the Local Government Board to deal with the matter.