§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Sheriff Johnstone, Returning Officer for Ross and Cromarty at the last Parliamentary election, engaged as Presiding Officers, amongst others, Sheriff Substitute Mackenzie, of Dornoch, Sutherland-shire, and also a great number of persons living out of the county, who travelled by road and rail, but chiefly by rail, to and from the polling stations, distances amounting in the aggregate to 1,539½ miles, or an average of 128£ miles, for whom the Returning Officer charged £155 7s. 6d., including 1s. per mile travelling allowance: whether steps will be taken to require Sheriff Johnstone, or other Returning Officer, in future to select the requisite officials as far as possible from persons residing in or near the respective polling districts; and whether the Returning Officer will be prohibited from allowing 1s. a mile to Presiding Officers and polling clerks as travelling allowance to places to which there are ordinary travelling facilities?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANUpon inquiry I am informed that the facts are substantially as stated by the hon. Member, non-resident Presiding Officers being in certain cases employed as the most suitable persons available, but that travelling expenses were not allowed except within the county, and that the employment of non-residents had therefore the same effect as regards expenses as if they had been resident in the county. The conduct of Parliamentary elections and the charges of Returning Officers are regulated by Statute, and I cannot interfere with the discretion of Returning Officers without relieving them of their responsibilities.