Where a borough has, in pursuance of the [30 & 31 Vict. c. 102.] Representation of the People Act, 1867, or of any Act passed in the session of the thirty-first and thirty-second years of the reign of Her Majesty, ceased to return a member to serve in Parliament, and the persons entitled to vote for the member or members formerly returned by the borough were by law electors for any other purpose, the burgesses of the borough shall be electors for that purpose, and shall in all respects, as regards that purpose, be substituted for the persons so entitled to vote.