§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)On behalf of the right honourable and gallant Member for North Armagh I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, of Ireland whether it is contrary to regulations for clerks of petty sessions and postmasters to take an active part and to speak at public meetings in favour of candidates for election as county councillors?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURClerks of petty sessions in Ireland are prohibited from taking any part in parliamentary, municipal, or poor law elections, except to record their votes, and it would be contrary to the regulations issued with the approval of the Lord Lieutenant for these officials to act in the manner indicated in the Question. I am informed by the Postmaster-General that similar regulations exist in his Department with reference to postmasters.