HC Deb 21 March 1895 vol 31 cc1560-1
SIR MARK STEWART

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he has considered the great inconvenience to which local parish council voters in large parishes must be put at the coming election, when, in order to record their votes, they will have to walk great distances, in some cases nine miles, seeing that there is only one polling station in each parish; is he aware that two polling places were allowed to those parishes at School Board elections; and it he will make some arrangement before the 2nd day of April whereby this inconvenience may be remedied?

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN

The matter referred to by the hon. Member lies by Statute within the province of the returning officer; but I have communicated on the subject with the county clerk with a view to seeing whether it is possible to make a different arrangement.

MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has received from the county which I represent a resolution paused at a large public meeting there stating dissatisfaction felt at the existing arrangements; whether the returning officer has been asked to make the necessary arrangements; and whether the Government is prepared to give him the authority to do so?

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN

I am not sure whether I have received such a resolution. We cannot go beyond the Act, but we are quite prepared to construe the Act in as large a manner as possible, in order to enable the returning officer to make such provision for the polling stations as is desirable.

SIR MARK STEWART

If the returning officer takes the responsibility of establishing polling places, will the Scotch office exonerate him?

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN

We cannot go beyond the Statute. Up to a very late date these changes can be made by the local authority, if it chooses to make them.