HC Deb 11 February 1847 vol 89 cc1156-7
SIR H. W. BARRON

said, that large sums of money had been taken by the landlords of Ireland under Mr. Labouchere's letter, for the purpose of employing the people in drainage operations, and preventing them wasting their energies in what were considered useless public works. He, for one, had done so, and he knew several others who had done the same; but their arrangements had been completely stopped, in consequence of the Board of Works not sending down drainage surveyors to them. He wished to ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland, if he could explain to the House, and to the numerous landlords who were awaiting the appointment of those officers to have their works commenced, the reason of the delay which had taken place in appointing the different surveyors? [MR. LABOUCHERE: Have the works been sanctioned?] The works could not be properly and legally sanctioned, until the surveyors went down and reported to Government; and that was what the landlords complained of, that they were not sanctioned, and that they did not know, therefore, whether they would be able to go on with their works or not.

MR. LABOUCHERE

said, he could not answer the question, unless he were acquainted with the particular facts; but he might state generally, that he was quite aware the Board of Works had been obliged to delay much longer than they wished the conducting of the previous examinations, which were necessary before sanctioning the works, as his hon. Friend had stated. The cause of the delay was this, namely, the very great difficulty which was experienced in getting competent surveyors. Whether this was the cause of the delay in this particular instance, he could not say; but he knew it was so in some instances. He assured the hon. Member and the House, that the Board of Works were in all cases anxious that every facility should be given for the commencement of the drainage operations in Ireland.

SIR H. W. BARRON

said, it was very important that there should be as little delay as possible, as, unless the drainage operations were commenced immediately, they would interfere with the putting of the crops into the earth.