DR. R. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)J. beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there are 137 county council electors in Clare Island; that the island is 17 miles from the mainland; and that it would be very difficult for them to come to the mainland, especially in bad weather, to record their votes; and, under the circumstances, will he use his influence to have a polling station situated at Clare Island for the convenience of the voters?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts are as stated in the first paragraph, except that the number of local government electors on Clare Island is, I am informed, 120. The question of the establishment of a polling station on the island has already formed the subject of communications between the Local Government Board and the returning officer, who states he is anxious to make arrangements to facilitate all persons as far as possible, but that he is not prepared to undertake the serious liability involved in carrying out the suggestion contained in the Question. Clare Island, for the purpose of these elections, is in precisely the same position as it is for Parliamentary elections. The returning officer points out that if a poll were arranged to be taken on the island, the 1570 election for the entire county electoral division might be invalidated should the presiding officer be unable, owing to bad weather, to reach the island either the day before, or on the day fixed for the poll.