§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the statement made in The Freeman's Journal of the 3rd instant, that at the recent contested 882 election for South Donegal numbers of voters had, owing to the present arrangement of polling districts in that constituency, to travel distances of 15, 20, and 27 miles to record their votes; whether he is aware that a similar state of things exists in nearly all Irish county constituencies; and, whether the Government intend to propose this Session any legislation on the subject of the registration of Parliamentary voters which would provide for a re-adjustment of the present system of polling districts?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I have no doubt that the statement to which the hon. Member refers is a fact, for in a very sparsely populated county like Donegal some voters must come a considerable distance to record their votes; and as there are several counties in Ireland of the same kind, very likely it happens in other counties beside Donegal. The Government do not intend to propose any legislation in reference to the subject.
§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to speak of this division as a sparsely populated one?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHIt is sparsely populated as compared with others.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYDid the right hon. Gentleman make any inquiries on the subject?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHNo more than I have stated.