§ MR. MACALEESEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the sheriff's account for the County Monaghan 184 local government elections amounted in the gross to a sum of £1,351 12s. 1d., although certain candidates in several of the divisions received a very small number of votes; and whether, in view of this expenditure, he can now see his way to devise means by which such contests may be discouraged.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI believe the cost of the first elections in County Monaghan amounted to the sum stated. It must be borne in mind, however, that there were twenty county council elections and seventy district council elections to be arranged for, and that a considerable portion of the sum mentioned was applied in the purchase of ballot boxes and compartments which will be available for future elections. As regards the second paragraph, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's previous question of the 8th June on the same subject.