§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at the late election of a county councillor for the Ballyconnell division of county Cavan, there were 60 voting papers (all in favour of one candidate) spoilt by reason of the writing a name on the hack of each, the writing in every case being in the same hand; and whether, without regard to the plea that an election petition is available, he will inquire how at one booth, and in respect of only one candidate, so many votes were invalidated by the same individual.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURA complaint of the nature mentioned in the first paragraph was made to the Local Government Board by the defeated candidate at the election of a district councillor for the Bawnboy Division of the County Cavan, and was subsequently withdrawn by him. The Board have no information that a similar occurrence took place in connection with the election of a county councillor in Cavan. With regard to the second paragraph, the Board have no power to hold an inquiry as suggested, as the Returning Officer, under the provisions of the Ballot Act, adapted by the Countyaud Rural District Councillor's Elections Order, is prohibited from allowing any person to inspect any ballot papers in his custody except by order of a Court having jurisdiction in the matter, or of airy tribunal in which the election is questioned.