§ MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his atten- 99 tion has been called to the election of a medical officer to the No. 2 Portumna Dispensary District, in the Portumna Union, held in the Board Room, Portumna, on 4th November last; is he aware that on that occasion 11 votes were tendered for Dr. Keary and 11 for Dr. Eyre, and that objection was taken on behalf of Dr. Keary to the vote of Mr. Tener, agent of the Marquess of Clanricarde, on the grounds that Mr. Tener had not the statutable qualification to act or vote as member of the Dispensary Committee, as he had neither rating nor residence in the same; is he aware that the sole residence of Mr. Tener is "The Square, Loughrea," and is so set out in Thorns' Directory; that such residence is outside the dispensary district; that Mr. Tener vainly attempted to obtain a rating within the district to qualify to vote at this election; and that his sole pretension to a claim to vote is that he occasionally holds a rent office in the stables of the Marquess of Clanricarde, in Portumna; and if, under these circumstances, he will direct the Local Government Board for Ireland to reconsider their decision declaring the election a tie, with the view to ratifying the election of Dr. Keary, who had a clear majority of the qualified electors? I should like to explain that in putting this question down I gave the Marquess of Clanricarde his legal title of "most noble," but it was struck out at the Table, the Clerk explaining that he regarded it as ironical.
§ MR. ASQUITH (for Mr. J. MOBLEY)The Local Government Board inform me that the election resulted in a tie, as stated. An objection was lodged to the vote given by Mr. Tener for Dr. Eyre on the grounds mentioned in the question; but the Board having ascertained from the Clerk of the Union that Mr. Tener is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Galway and resides for a good portion of his time at Portumna Castle, he is, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, qualified to act as an ex officio Guardian of the Union, and, as such, as a member of the Dispensary Committee. The Board add that it is not necessary that Mr. Tener should be rated for the residence referred to, to qualify him for either of the offices.
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)As Mr. Fenner only attends at Portumna Castle as the agent or servant of the 100 most noble Marquess the owner of the castle, does the right hon. Gentleman concur in the view that such attendance gives a statutable qualification to vote as a member of the Dispensary Committee?
§ MR. ASQUITH; That" is a question of some difficulty. I should like to have notice of it.
§ MR. SEXTONI hope we may regard the matter as not entirely closed.
§ MR. BODKINWhen the right hon. Gentleman is inquiring, will he also ascertain if there is any castle at all at Portumna? Speaking from personal knowledge, I say that the castle has been burnt down.