§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there are Town Commissioners in Ireland whose election takes place on 16th October; whether, after the Local Government (Ireland) Bill becomes law, the election of Town Commissioners in towns referred to will be held in January in the future; and whether all the Commissioners will have to be re-elected then?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralOne-third of the Commissioners elected in towns under the Towns Improvement Act, 1854, go out of office annually on the 15th October, their places being filled on that day. Under the Local Government Bill the election of Town Commissioners will be held in January, and those who would have to retire in the ordinary course in October next will hold office until the new Commissioners are elected in January. For the first election after the Bill becomes law the whole body of the Commissioners must be re-elected, and the election, thereafter, of one-third annually (as at present) will continue, unless the triennial system be adopted.
§ MR. DALYMay I ask how it is to be decided which of the Commissioners shall go out of office in the first year?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI cannot say at present.