MR.To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to numerous complaints of the rushing of meetings by the chairmen and of intimidation of villagers during the recent parish council elections; and whether, in order to secure a true expression of local opinion on such occasions, he will introduce some simple method of balloting to be compulsorily adopted at all such meetings, in lieu of the method of a show of hands.
1629 (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have received some complaints as to irregularities at the recent parish council elections, bun they have been very few. The Local Government Act, 1894, requires that the election of parish councillors shall be at a parish meeting or at a poll consequent thereon, and there is a good deal of difficulty in arranging that the voting at an election at a parish meeting shall be by ballot. I will, however, take note of the suggestion of my hon. friend.