§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that prior to the recent elections of master and matron of the Tipperary Workhouse, the board of guardians unanimously passed a resolution asking the Local Government Board to permit the elections to be held by ballot; and whether, seeing that the election of Poor Law officials in England is held by ballot, and that elections by open voting cause expense to candidates and annoyance to guardians through canvassing, steps will be taken to assimilate the English and 39 Irish procedure in the election of Poor Law officials.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The facts are as stated in the first inquiry. Article 10 of the Local Government Board's general regulations dealing with the proceedings of boards of guardians requires that votes shall be given openly and not by ballot or in any other secret manner. A requirement of similar purport exists in England, and it is, therefore, incorrect to say that the election of Poor Law officials in England is held by ballot.