§ MR. M'COANAs the Solicitor General for Ireland objects to answering abstract questions of law, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Irish Local Government Board has any authority over Boards of Town Commissioners abusing the powers conferred by their constituting Acts, or whether the only remedy of aggrieved ratepayers lies in recourse to the legal proceedings recently indicated by Mr. Solicitor General; and, whether, if the Local Government Board has such authority, it will, on complaint duly made, direct an inquiry into the charges recently preferred in a memorial to Her Majesty's Treasury against the Commissioners of Wicklow by the ratepayers of that township?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Local Government Board has no authority over members of Town Commissioners abusing their powers beyond those recently indicated. If any illegal payment has been made out of the rates such payment may be questioned before the public auditor at his annual audit. Such auditor is appointed by the Local Government Board in pursuance of Act of Parliament. If the Town Commissioners, being also the sanitary authority under the Public Health Act, make default in the exercise of their powers, the Local Government Board has the power 1192 to direct the holding of an inquiry, and to enforce the provisions of the Act of Parliament. This power is conferred by the 211th section of the Public Health Act of 1872.