§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any instructions have been issued by the Local Government Board for the guidance of clerks of unions and rate collectors in reference to their duties under the Representation of the People Act?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Local Government Board consider that it does not devolve upon them to 144 advise on questions which arise as to the construction of the Acts relating to the representation of the people, or to give general instructions as to their administration. They have, however, communicated to Boards of Guardians a letter which I thought it advisable to address to them with the view of removing a very general uncertainty which was found to exist among Clerks of Unions as to the date when they should serve the notices required of them by the Act of 1884. The Board have also addressed a Circular to Boards of Guardians calling attention to the duties of Poor Rate collectors under Sub-section 7 of the 9th section of that Act, and forwarding the form of notice which they are advised should be used.
§ MR. HARRINGTONasked whether it was not the fact that the letter to which the right hon. Gentleman had referred promised that "further instructions on the subject would be given in a few days;" whether a month had since elapsed, and the officials of the Poor Law were waiting for these "further instructions;" and, whether the Local Government Board did not hold themselves responsible for the issue of proper instructions?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid, that the instructions had been issued in the form originally intended, and the officials otherwise had the Act before them.
§ MR. HARRINGTONasked if any instructions had followed the promise given a month ago, and if no instructions had followed, whether he would take an immediate opportunity of undeceiving them and recommending them to take action themselves; or if Poor Law officials took instructions from the National League; and whether he would take steps to protect such officials as took such instructions and acted upon them?
MR. CAMPBELL-BANNRRMANFinal instructions cannot be issued until after the passing of the Seats Bill. Meanwhile, I will see whether there is any misunderstanding.
§ MR. HARRINGTONsaid, that as this was a very important matter, perhaps the House would allow him to make an explanation. [Cries of No!" "Oh!" and "Order!"] Then he would ask whether, as the Clerks of Poor Law Unions in Ireland believed that they might not issue 145 these notices to persons under £10 rating, I whether in other districts requisition forms had not been issued at all; whether in other cases requisition forms were issued by the Guardians or Clerks of Unions intended sometimes to omit the £10 ratings, and for want of requisition forms there was no specification as to whether some of these ratings applied to new and different ratings; and whether the right hon. Gentleman would apply a remedy to this state of confusion?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI cannot go any further than to say that I think the position is this—that the Local Government Board is quite ready-to give any instructions of a general kind that are absolutely necessary. They would, however, be instructions of a very general kind, for it would at once be an improper and a dangerous thing for the Local Government Board to decide upon matters of doubt for the Local Authorities, or assist them in the interpretation of the Act. They have the Act before them, and can apply to the Act for instructions.
§ MR. HEALYMight I ask is it not not the business of the Local Government Board to issue proper instructions, and also it is not a fact that they have a legal adviser, who can answer any questions as to the legal interpretation of the Act?