§ MR. CONOR O'KELLY (Mayo, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is permissible for deputy returning officers under the Local Government Act, 1898, to take an active part in county council contests in favour of particular car. dictates in the districts in which they act as deputy returning officers; and, if not, will he intimate to the Local Government Board that they should advise the deputy returning officer for the Claremorris rural district to abstain from further interference in the election at present taking place in the Claremorris county electoral division.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The enactment dealing with the misconduct on the part of election officers is Article 11 of the Third Schedule to the Election Order of 16th February, 1899, which article is adapted from Section 11 of the Ballot Act of 1872. The Local Government Board have no powers in the matter. Any question which may arise as to the misconduct of an election officer is one for decision by a Court of Law.