MR. JUSTIN HUNTLY M'CARTHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the Athlone Board of Guardians passed a resolution approving of the Labourers' Act, and determining to act on it; whether, more than a year ago, a representation of twelve or more ratepayers of the division of Carnagh was placed before the Athlone Board of Guardians, showing that a cottage ought to be built in the division of Carnagh (or in any area approved of by the Guardians) for a labourer named Martin Donnelly; whether the Guardians approved of that representation of the ratepayers, and appointed a Committee to choose a proper site for said cottage; whether such site was chosen, or anything else has been done, in reference to said proposed cottage; and, if nothing has been done, whether the Local Government Board have taken, or intend to take, any steps, under Sections 10 and 11 of "The Labourers' (Ireland) Act, 1883," to have such cottage erected?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt is true that an application was made for the erection of a cottage in the Division of Carnagh for a man named Martin Donnelly. The application was referred to a Committee of the Guardians; but the matter fell through, because it was ascertained that Donnelly had been offered a good house, with a kitchen-garden and a rood of land, provided he would take service as a workman with the person who had offered the house and land. It was considered that in these circumstances it would be an imposition on the cesspayers to have a cottage erected for this man under the Labourers' Act. The case is not one in which the Local Government Board are called upon to take action under the 11th section.