§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N.E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings of Mr. Prosser, who acted as presiding officer at Moveen, Kilkee, county Clare, during the election for county and district councillors, and through whose want of knowledge the election was rendered invalid; if he will state when another election, properly conducted, will take place; and, will the sub-sheriff, who is responsible for the appointment of an incompetent official, be required to bear the cost of the new election?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been called to the fact that through the want of knowledge of the presiding officer at Moveen, county Clare, the recent county council election has been rendered invalid. The Local Government Board are arranging for new elections in all district, electoral divisions at present unrepresented or insufficiently represented. The Board has intimated to the under sheriff of this particular district that they consider he should, under the circumstances, conduct the supplementary election free of charge, and he has expressed his willingness to do so.