§ MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that there are rival claimants for the position of town clerk in Athlone, and that the question is now the subject of litigation in the superior courts; and whether, as was done when a similar difficulty arose some years ago in the township of Boyle, he will direct that the police authorities will not bring summonses in the name of either of the alleged town clerks pending the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe police are not aware that the validity of the appointment of the gentleman now acting as town clerk of Athlone forms the subject of litigation in the superior courts. In the Boyle case referred to, there was prolonged litigation between the dismissed town clerk and the Boyle Commissioners, and the police adopted the course of proceeding in the Potty Sessions Court for all offences committed in the town under the Summary Jurisdiction and other Acts. Should the recent proceedings of the Athlone Commissioners in reference to the clerkship of that town be questioned, the desirability of taking action similar to that adopted at Boyle will be considered.