§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the cottage of Peter Gibson, an agricultural labourer, was some time ago reported on by the medical officer of health as being wholly unfit for human habitation; whether, recently, Gibson's family has been attacked with fever, from which one of his children died; whether Gibson's application for a cottage under the Labourers Acts was twice before the Board of Guardians at Rathdrum; and, what is the reason it was refused?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, that he was informed that the man lived rent free in a most unsanitary house, and that he was offered a cottage close by, at a moderate rent, but refused 1305 it. Lord Carysfort had undertaken to build whatever cottages were required on his estate at rents less than the Guardians could give them; and, under these circumstances, the Guardians did not feel justified in providing cottages at the expense of the ratepayers.
§ MR. W. J. CORBETasked, if Lord Carysfort accompanied the offer with conditions which the people would not accept; and, whether the action of the Guardians in not carrying out the Labourers Act was dictated by the ex officios against the wishes of the elected Guardians?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI am not aware of the circumstances; but the hon. Member must be aware that it would not be in the power of the Local Government Board to compel the Guardians in the matter.