§ MR. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent North Sligo 480 election, owing to a large number of illiterate voters presenting themselves at one time at one polling station, the forms for illiterate votes ran short, and in consequence that polling booth had to be closed for a considerable period, and also that, when many of the voters presented themselves to vote as illiterates, long discussions arose between the personation agents of the two candidates as to whether the several claims to vote as illiterates were bonâ fide ones or not, and in consequence great delay arose; were any persons who had not taken the oath of secrecy permitted to remain in the polling stations while the illiterates' votes were being taken; and whether the Government propose to cause inquiry to be made into the subject?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)The official Reports furnished to me do not afford the additional information asked, but I have directed a further inquiry to be made into the subject.
§ MR. WEBSTERI will repeat the question at a later date.