§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether under Rule 8 of the Parish Councillors' Election Order, 1898, the chairman of the parish meeting is justified in receiving further nomination papers while he is examining the validity of the nominations first handed in, and before he makes his statement of names of the candidates in the alphabetical order of their surnames, etc.; and whether he is aware that the closing of the time for receiving nominations before the examination of the nomination papers has resulted in an incomplete election?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI am advised that the chairman of the parish meeting is justified in taking the course which is suggested in the first paragraph of the question. The hon. Member, in a note which he has addressed to me, informs me of a case such as is referred to in the second paragraph, which occurred two years ago; but I am not aware of other instances.