§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, at the recent election in Kildare of a petty sessions clerk for the districts of Kildare and Rathangan, in which a Mr. Samuel Bratton was declared elected on February 2nd, he is aware that the said Samuel Bratton received only three votes out of a total of seven magistrates present and voting; that this alleged election was held in a private room off the public Court from which the candidates, the public, and the Press were excluded; and that a memorial protesting against the irregular character of the proceedings was addressed to His Excellency the Earl of Dudley, on behalf of the general public of the districts concerned, and signed by the Very Rev. P. Campion, P. P. Kildare and Rathangan,and the Very Rev. N. A. Staples, O.C.C., White Abbey, Kildare, on February 4th, and duly acknowledged by His Excellency; and if, under these circumstances, he will take steps to have this election annulled and a new election ordered.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The facts are substantially as stated in the Question. There were three candidates, of whom Mr. Bratton received three votes, and the two remaining candidates two votes each. Prior to the election the chairman of the magistrates announced that the candidate who should first receive a majority of the votes, would be declared elected. I am advised 439 that this was a legal method of election, and also that the magistrates acted within their powers in retiring to their private room to Vote. The result of the election was duly announced in public Court. A reply to the memorial was sent on March 8th to the effect that the election was legal.