§ COLONEL NOLANasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If contributions are made from the Imperial Exchequer towards the expenses of certain roads in England and Scotland: and, if he would consider the propriety of extending this advantage to some 866 districts in Ireland where the County Rates are very high?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)The answer to the first Question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman is in the affirmative. As to the second, I am not prepared to propose this grant without reviewing the whole question of the contributions from Imperial funds towards local burdens in Ireland. At present, Ireland is far more favourably situated than England and Scotland in this respect; and I fear that the additional cost to the Irish ratepayers would be very heavy if the three countries were placed on an equality.