§ MR. RENSHAW (Renfrew, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether, in consequence of a provision in Section 56, Sub-section 4, of The Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1894, it will be necessary for the returning officers at the first election of parish councillors to make provision for the elections taking place within the parish wards; and, whether, seeing that this will add very considerably to the expense of the first elections, he can take steps to provide, that the conditions which apply to the second and subsequent elections in this respect should apply to the first elections also.
THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir GEO. O.TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton)I consider that it will not be necessary to make; provision for the elections taking place within the parish wards, as it appears to me that the word "in" occurring in Section 56, Sub-section 4, does not mean "locally 191 within, "but that it signifies "for" or "according to" parish wards. It is not required by the Act that subsequent elections shall take place within parish wards, and there is no reason for the first election being in this respect different from subsequent ones. I may add that this view is shared by the Local Government Board for Scotland, and that Board will issue a determination to this effect upon a reference by any County Council under Section 14, Subsection 7, of the Act. If, however, the hon. Member considers the point doubtful and introduces a short Bill to remove the doubt, the Government will support it.