§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of 1102 Ireland, If his attention has been called to The Northern Whig newspaper report of the proceedings of the Belfast Board of Guardians of the previous day, in which it is alleged by Mr. Jackson, a large ratepayer in the Union, that an irregular, if not fraudulent, system of book-keeping has prevailed in the Belfast Workhouse for a long time past; if it be true that the master of this workhouse effected sales of farm produce, and other workhouse property, for one whole year and more, and made no entry, nor kept any record, of said sales in the books set apart by the Local Government Board for that purpose; if it be true that he has disregarded a resolution of the Board of Guardians requiring him to keep an inventory of the furniture and movable effects of the workhouse; if it be correct that forty paupers more were on the books of the workhouse, on the 29th September 1884, than were in the house; is it a fact that the present numbers in the house do not agree with those on the books; is it true that Major Stoddart, Government Auditor, and Inspector Hamilton, promised to conceal the master's misconduct, and did keep it concealed from the public, until Mr. Jackson's letter disclosed their conduct; have the Local Government Board condoned these offences; and, will an inquiry on oath be instituted into the whole question, or what steps will be taken?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThis Question having only appeared on the Notice Paper yesterday, there has not been time for the receipt of the necessary Report, which could only be made after detailed inquiry in Belfast. Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat the Question on Monday.