§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Local Government Board has received a complaint from James Breisland, of Belturbet, of irregularities in the election of urban councillors for that town, which took place on 15th January; whether one complaint was that the returning officer, who is also the town clerk of Belturbet, when he found that the number of votes for Mr. Breisland and another candidate were equal, gave a casting vote against Mr. Breisland; whether the proper course is for the returning officer to decide by lot between the two persons with an equal number of votes; whether the returning officer permitted Robert Bradley to vote in the said election, although his name was not on the register; and what steps will the Local Government Board take in the matter.
§ MR. CHERRYThe Local Government Board have received a complaint from Mr. Breisland to the effect stated in the first two parts of the Question. In the case of an equality of votes for candidates the prescribed course is for the returning officer to decide by lot between the candidates. The Local Government Board have no information as to Mr. Bradley's vote. The Board have no jurisdiction in the matter. An election petition would appear to be the remedy in such cases.