§ MR. FLYNN (for Mr. SEXTON,) Belfast, W.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the new conditions as to voting at Poor Law elections in Ireland which have arisen in consequence of the purchase of holdings by occupying tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, the Irish Local Government Board will secure legality and uniformity by issuing instructions to the Returning Officers, in time for the forthcoming elections, as to the issue of voting papers and the reckoning of votes, with particular reference to the cases of persons who are occupying proprietors of farms and also occupy leased or rented holdings, and in order to insure that voting papers may be duly issued to them for the votes they are entitled to give in respect of the fee-simple holdings, the valuation of the rented farms, and of any excess of valuation over rent?
§ MR. JACKSONThe mode in which votes are to be computed and allowed in cases where holdings have been purchased by the holder is clearly provided for by the Statute, and the purchase of a holding by an occupier does not give rise to any new condition which is not so provided for. The Local Government Board, therefore, are not aware of any necessity for issuing general in- 894 stuctions to Returning Officers on the subject. When complaint is made to the Board that a Returning Officer has in any case allowed a smaller number of votes than that to which a ratepayer is entitled by law the matter receives attention, and when necessary instructions are given to the Returning Officer concerned.
§ MR. FLYNN (for Mr. SEXTON)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the instructions of the Irish Local Government Board, having fixed the 21st of February as the last day for lodging claims to property votes in the Poor Law elections, certain Returning Officers have expressed doubts whether they will issue voting papers in respect of claims lodged this year on the 22nd February, the 21st having fallen upon Sunday; whether, as the voting papers cannot be taken up before the 21st instant, the full period required by law intervenes between the 22nd of February and the 21st of March, this being leap year; and whether instructions will be immediately issued that voting papers are to be given out in respect of valid claims lodged on the 22nd ultimo?
§ MR. JACKSONI am having inquiries made about this.
§ MR. FLYNN(subsequently): Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary if he would be good enough, if notice is given, to answer the last paragraph, as the question is one of urgency?
§ MR. JACKSONAs I said I have not got the Report to enable me to answer this question, but I shall certainly communicate at once with the Local Government Board, drawing their attention to the fact that it is a question of urgency.