§ MR. W. ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N.E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of Mr. George Foott, J.P., Carrigacunna Castle, Killavullen, Cork 211 county, in summarily dismissing from his employment on the morning of the 7th instant, the day following the county council election, a carpenter whom he had previously threatened to discharge unless he voted for Mr. Newman, the Unionist candidate; if he is also aware that Mr. Foott, in his magisterial capacity, refused to sign declaration forms for two personating agents of Mr. Thomas Barry, Nationalist candidate, giving as a reason for such refusal that these agents were not on his side; and if he will cause inquiry to be made into these allegations?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)I am informed that there is no foundation for the statements in the first paragraph. As regards the second paragraph, I am informed that Mr. Foott refused to sign the declaration form, not for the reason alleged, but because he considered it was the duty of the Returning Officer, or some person occupying a similar position, to sign the form.