§ MR. COXI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in 1879 it was proposed to borrow £32.000 from the Board of Works, under the Relief of Distress Act of that 541 year, for the purpose of the drainage of the River Scarriff, and that advance of said sum was agreed to by the Board of Works; whether he has received a resolution, adopted by a large and influential public meeting of landlords and tenants, and others interested, recently held in Scarriff, urging on the Government the necessity of going on with this work; whether a resolution was also adopted, asking that the Drainage Acts might be so amended as to enable tenant farmers, holding judicial leases, to become proprietors within the meaning of the Act; and what action the Government intend taking in the matter?
§ MR. JACKSONThe statements in paragraph 1 of the hon. Member's question are correct. I understand that the scheme for the Scarriff Drainage fell through, as no action was taken within the time allowed by the Provisional Order, and extended by the Board of Works to the 1st March, 1887. I have received the resolutions referred to. As to the last paragraph, I should be glad if the hon. Member would address his inquiry to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary.
§ MR. COXIn view of the distress prevailing, do the Government propose to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. JACKSONIt is not in my power to say. The hon. Gentleman had better give notice of a question to the Chief Secretary.