§ MR. YOXALLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to an irregularity alleged to have occurred in connection with the recent election of the Wimbledon District Council; whether he is aware that one of the presiding officers declined to permit a sworn agent to tape and seal one of the ballot boxes, a measure of precaution adopted in other cases; and, whether he has made inquiry into this matter.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.The Local Government Board have no jurisdiction with regard to the proceedings at the recent election of district councillors at Wimbledon, and no authority to inquire into the matter. I am, however, informed by the Returning Officer that it appears that one of the presiding officers omitted to lock a ballot-box before sealing it and afterwards broke the seal in order to lock the box. The returning officer adds that there is no reason for supposing that the presiding officer was actuated by any fraudulent intention, and that on verification of his ballot paper account all the ballot papers were duly accounted for. With regard to the second paragraph of the question the Returning Officer states 597 that he was informed by the presiding officer that at the opening of the poll he declined to permit a candidate (not an agent as suggested) to affix his seal to the ballot-box. I am, however, advised that neither a candidate nor an agent has any legal right to claim to affix his seal to the ballot box at this stage of the proceedings.