§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will inquire whether at the Irish county council elections of 1899 more than twice the number of polling places were provided for the convenience of voters than at the late Parliamentary elections; is he aware that in constituencies like North Louth voters have had to walk in many cases five or six miles to the poll, contrary to law; and if the Government will do anything to ensure that no voter in Ireland will have to proceed a greater distance than three miles to the poll.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThere has not been sufficient time to collect the information needed in order to verify the suggestion, made in the first paragraph, but I have no reason to doubt its accuracy. I understand there are places in North Louth 703 distant some five or six miles from a polling place. This is not necessarily contrary to the law, which admits of some latitude. The fixing of polling places does not rest with the Government. In the case of Local Government elections it rests with the Returning Officer, while in the case of Parliamentary elections it is primarily determined by the Chairman and Justices at Quarter Sessions subject to confirmation by the Privy Council. If representations are made to the Government from electors in any locality I will see that they are brought to the notice of the Chairman of Quarter Sessions.