§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any, and, if so, what, steps have been and are being taken to provide labourers cottages and allotments for labourers in and around the village of Kill, County 535 Kildare; whether the majority of houses occupied by labourers have been condemned by Sanitary Authorities for years past as unsanitary and incommodious; and whether he is aware that the main opposition to allotments and erection of such cottages proceeded from the local landowner; and, if so, whether steps will be immediately taken to provide the required plots and cottages?
§ MR. JACKSONThe hon. Member has been good enough to put several questions down to-day on the subject of labourers cottages. I am sorry to say I have not had time to get answers to them. I need hardly say that these questions were only put down last night, and this morning I telegraphed over to the Local Government Board for the information; but I think with regard to most of these questions the Local Government Board will have to communicate with the Local Authorities.
§ DR. TANNERWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to tell me what has been done about labourers cottages in Antrim?
§ MR. JACKSONI believe there is a question put to me on that subject.
§ DR. TANNERI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the labourers in the Ballymena Union to the number of two hundred and fifty have presented a Petition with the view of getting some cottages built in that Union; and also whether he is aware that the labourers in Antrim complain that they are being treated by the various Unions in Antrim like dogs, as is stated in a document which I have in my hand, signed by the representatives of three hundred labourers in Antrim?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Committee appointed by the Board of Guardians of Ballymena Union to inquire into the representations made under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts from various Electoral Divisions in the Union recommended the erection of a number of new houses; that on the 21st May the Board of 536 Guardians rejected the schemes recommended by the Committee for the Electoral Divisions of Ballyscullion, Ahoghill, Galgorm, Lisnagarron, and Port Glen one; whether the Board of Gruardians have adopted any scheme for any Electoral Division; and, if so, which Division; whether the Local Government Board has received copies of the representations made to the Ballymena Union, and the reasons of the Board of Guardians for not acting upon them; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction existing amongst the labourers at the action of the Board of Guardians, the Local Government Board will direct a local inquiry to be held and a Report to be made with respect to the correctness of the representations and the matters connected therewith?
§ MR. JACKSONIt appears that the Guardians of Ballymena Union adopted on the 19th April their Committee's Report recommending the erection of twenty-eight cottages, but at their meeting on the 21st May last, for the purpose of making the necessary improvement scheme, a majority of the Guardians present rejected the proposal. The Local Government Board are, however, advised that it is imperative on the Guardians, when a resolution in favour of an improvement scheme has been passed, to proceed with the scheme and give effect to it. The Local Government Board are now addressing the Guardians to this effect.
§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps have been taken in the Mallow Union to carry out Scheme 6 under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts; and, if not, for what reasons?
§ MR. JACKSONI am sorry I have not been able to get information with regard to this matter, and that I am, therefore, unable to answer the question.
§ DR. TANNERI will put it down again for next Thursday.
§ MR. JACKSONI would prefer that it should be put down for Monday.