MR. WEBSTERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will institute an inquiry as to the reason why, at the last General Election, in Ireland 84,919 electors voted under the illiterate clauses of the Ballot Act, or 21.50 per cent.; and whether in England the number was 46,109, or 1.24 1860 per cent.; and in Scotland 4,577, or only .98 per cent.?
§ MR. WEBB (Waterford, W.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, may I ask him if it is not the fact that the proportion of illiterate voters voting in Ulster was 23 per cent., while the proportion voting in the rest of Ireland was 20 per cent.; whether, in Belfast, it was not 8.4 per cent. against 2.45 per cent. in Dublin; whether, in Londonderry, it was not 17 per cent. against 9 per cent. in Waterford; whether, in Newry, it was not 17 percent.—?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is not a question; it partakes rather of the character of an argument.
MR. J. MORLEYMy knowledge does not extend to all these details, I am afraid; and I cannot promise to institute an inquiry of this kind. I could not say what its course should be, or see what useful result would be obtained.