§ MR. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, since the passing of the Local Government Act, the polling booth for Coalisland and New Mills was fixed at Brackville, in the village of Coalisland; that this year the polling station has been fixed at New Mills, an exclusively Orange quarter, on account of reports of disturbances during the last two elections in Coalisland, which reports were not made by any public body; and whether, in view of the police reports as to the only disturbance that took place, and of the fact that, of the total number of 600 voters in this unit, 450 reside in Coalisland and 150 in New Mills, and the greater number of these would be unable to travel two miles after six o'clock and record their votes, that the accommodation in New Mills is unsatisfactory, there being neither telegraph office nor police station, steps will be taken to prevent the proposed change being carried out.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The duty of determining the number and situation of polling places and stations at local government elections devolves upon the returning officers for these elections, and the Local Government Board have no authority to intervene in the matter. It is open to the hon. Member to make a representation on the subject to the returning officer for county Tyrone, who is the secretary of the county council.