§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that heavy election expenses have been caused by candidates putting themselves forward at the recent local government elections in Ireland for divisions where no possible chance existed of their being returned; and whether he will undertake to amend the Local Government (Ireland) Act to the extent of obliging any candidate who provokes a contest, and fails to secure at least a fourth of the votes of the electorate, to pay a moiety of the cost of such election.
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURThe amendment in the law suggested by the hon. Member is clearly one which, if adopted at all, should be of general application. I think, however, it will be found on consideration to be open to grave objections.