Mr. COLLINSasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the circumstances in which 60 women voters in the Bloxwich Ward of the Borough of Walsall were prevented from recording their votes in the recent election of guardians; whether those voters were waiting in the Elmore Green polling station 10 minutes before the doors were closed, and that they and other voters outside the doors were unable to vote owing to the dilatory way in which the voting papers were issued; and whether he will have inquiry made into the facts with a view to a repetition being prevented of such an occurrence by which the poorer class of voters are mostly affected?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I understand from the Returning Officer at the election referred to that the arrangements for the poll were precisely the same as those adopted at the recent municipal elections which had then been found to work satisfactorily. The presiding officer and poll clerks were experienced officers, and the Returning Officer is satisfied that they issued ballot papers as rapidly as possible. Obviously, if a considerable number of voters do not attend the polling station until the last few minutes of the poll, there must be a risk of some not being able to vote. I do not consider that I can usefully take any further action in this matter.