§ MR. JAMES BAILEY (Newington, Walworth)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to what occurred at the last Vestry Election of the St. Peter's Ward of the parish of St. Mary, Newington, when the Returning Officer permitted some of the candidates and their polling agents to act as counting clerks in taking the poll; whether he will ascertain the legal effect of these proceedings; and, supposing that such persons failed to make the declaration of secrecy required by the Ballot Act, if the whole election has been thereby rendered void; and whether, in any case, the employment of a candidate or his polling agent in counting the votes at the poll for his own election is such an infringement of the provisions of the the Local Government Act, 1894, as to invalidate the election?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI have made inquiry of the Returning Officer, and I gather from his communication that two of the candidates at the election in question, and another person, all of whom had been appointed as counting agents, did take part in the counting of the votes. I am informed that these three persons took the declaration of secrecy required by the Ballot Act, and that the two who were candidates were not successful in their candidature. The Local Government Board have no authority whatever to determine a question as to the legality of the election of a vestry-man. When it is desired to obtain a decision with regard to the validity of an election, an Election Petition should be presented, within the Described time, in order that the question may he determined by the Election Court. It is not a matter in which the Board can in any way intervene or express an opinion.