HC Deb 04 March 1895 vol 31 cc279-80
MR. G. W. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received from Mr. E. K. B. Tighe a protest against his appointment as High Sheriff for the County Kilkenny, on the ground that he is domiciled in Norfolk, is candidate for the Parliamentary representation of North-west Norfolk, and that the other gentlemen were returned as eligible for the office by the Judge of Assize, one of whom had undertaken to act if called upon to do so; whether it is usual so exempt Parliamentary candidates from service as High Sheriffs in Ireland; and, whether he will reconsider the matter, with a view to appointing one of the other gentlemen whose names have been forwarded by the Judge of Assize to the Government?

MR. VESEY KNOX

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in cases such as that in Kilkenny, brought to hisnotice by the hon. Member for East Belfast, when the person nominated as High Sheriff by the customary method is obviously unsuited for the post, he will advise the Lord Lieutenant to exercise his statutory power, and appoint a High Sheriff acceptable to the mass of the people?

MR. G. RUSSELL

The name of Mr. Tighe was returned first in the list of gentlemen eligible for the office of High Sheriff for Kilkenny. He was informed of this on the 15th January, but that if the second gentleman on the list, within a week's time, wrote to the Castle expressing his willingness to serve instead of Mr. Tighe, his name would be brought before the Lord Lieutenant for appointment. No letter was received, however, from the second gentleman, and on the 21st January Mr. Tighe stated that that gentleman declined to write. Mr. Tighe, however, claimed exemption on the ground that he was the accepted Parliamentary candidate for one of the Divisions of Norfolk, and that he had no residence in County Kilkenny, but he was informed by the Lord Lieutenant that the reasons advanced by him would not justify his exemption from serving, and he was, accordingly, appointed. I am not aware of any gentleman having been exempted from serving on the ground that he is a candidate for election to Parliament. Neither of the other two gentlemen on the list has offered to serve, and at the present stage, when Assizes are in progress, it would not be practicable to appoint another gentleman to the office.