MR. R. G. WEBSTERI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the material discrepancies betwixt the original and the subsequent count of the votes cast at the recent elections in Southampton and the Haggerston Division of Shoreditch; and if it is practicable to have some system recommended to the presiding officers at elections by which the chance of these material discrepancies (which might in some instances alter the true results of elections) would be obviated?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThe Local Government Board have no power to give directions as to the counting of votes in Parliamentary Elections. The responsibility for the accurate counting of the votes must rest with the Returning Officers, and the Local Government Board cannot intervene in the matter.
MR. R. G. WEBSTERasked whether it was practicable to have some system introduced whereby discrepancies, which had not only arisen in Haggerston, but in other constituencies, could be avoided?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLthought his hon. Friend would see that was a question which required notice.