§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board has sanctioned the Down County Council's resolution to adopt part of the Polling Districts and Registration of Voters (Ireland) Act, but that, pending the issue of Registration Rules by the Privy Council, the matter cannot be completed; and whether, as the Act was passed in 1908, he can undertake that the rules will be issued this month, inasmuch as the operation of the Resolution would otherwise have to be postponed for another year?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Local Government Board have made an Order sanctioning an arrangement by the Down Council to have the register of voters in the rural districts of that county arranged alphabetically in townlands. For the purpose of carrying that arrangement into effect it is necessary that supplemental registration rules should be made by the Lord Lieutenant in Council. These rules are in preparation, and will be submitted to His Excellency and the Privy Council as soon as possible, but I cannot yet fix a definite date for their issue.