§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Returning Officer appointed by the Local Government Board for conducting the Poor Law election in the Carrick-on-Suir Union, failed in his duty in these particulars: by failing to have voting papers delivered to all ratepayers who were entitled to vote; by not being in attendance in his office on the days of the 20th and 21st March on the hours prescribed by the Statute, namely, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and by setting aside the voting papers of numerous Nationalists on frivolous pretences; whether complaints have reached him that several Nationalist voters to whom no papers had been issued were in attendance at the office of the Returning Officer on the days of the 20th and 21st March, within the prescribed hours, to register their votes, but were deprived of the opportunity of voting owing to his absence, the entries in the porter's book showing that he left on the 20th at 4.15 p.m., and on the 21st at 4.20 p.m.; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will have full inquiries made to ascertain if the election was invalid, and, if so, have a new election ordered?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Local Government Board inform me that the Returning Officer states that he left his office at the time mentioned in consequence of indisposition, but that he is not aware of any ratepayer having called in his absence, and the workhouse porter informed him that none had done so. If, however, the Local Government Board are supplied with the names of any voters who have not been supplied with voting papers they will cause further inquiry to be made.