§ 86. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the frequent difficulty experienced by county councillors, if travelling abroad after their election, in making within twenty-eight days the required declaration of their acceptance of office before an English magistrate or other stipulated official, and the consequent risk which they run of being obliged to apply to the High Court, at the cost of £50, to regularise their administrative actions, he will consent to extend the time for making such declarations from twenty-eight days to three months?
§ Mr. BURNSUnder Section 5 of the County Councils (Elections) Act, 1891, a county councillor is already allowed three months within which he may make his declaration of acceptance of office, but perhaps the hon. Member refers to the declaration as to election expenses, which must be made within twenty-eight days. This time could not be extended without legislation.