§ (6.) 37.606l. Board of Public Works (Ireland).
§ MR. H. HERBERTsaid, he wished to call attention to the system of valuation of land in Ireland. The declared object of the Valuation Act had been to obtain uniformity; and this object was now much more desirable, as the new franchise was founded on a particular valuation. No time ought to be lost in ensuring that that valuation should be uniform. It appeared in evidence before the Poor Law Committee of last Session, that in the western counties particularly, great discrepancies occurred in the proportion which the valuation of one union bore to another. He knew numerous instances where neighbouring unions varied 20, 30, or 40 per cent in their valuation. This must lead to grievous injustice on the county generally.
§ MR. REYNOLDSthought that no public department required a more thorough overhauling than the Board of Works in Ireland. More money had been squandered by the extravagance of that board, on the one hand, and its gross ignorance on the other, than by all the other public departments in Ireland. There was a job in connexion with the office of secretary, who received a salary of 500l. Two years ago a person named Walker filled the office of secretary, and was in the full enjoyment of his health and faculties. It appeared, however, that it was necessary to supersede Mr. Walker to make room for the 649 nephew or son-in-law of the Chief Commissioner, Colonel Jones, whose name was Hornsby. Mr. Walker accordingly was pensioned off upon 370l. per annum, and was now riding on a blood horse in the streets of Dublin. Opposite to Mr. Walker's name was placed, as the ground for his retiring, not "old age, ill health, or imbecility," as was usual, but "adjustment of the office." He (Mr. Reynolds) had sought an explanation of the term "adjustment of the office," and the explanation given him was, that Mr. Hornsby 'was son-in-law to Colonel Jones, and that it was convenient to supersede Walker to I make room for Hornsby. But thereby hung another tale. Walker "kicked up a row," and said he had been sacrificed to the principles of nepotism. He published letters and threatened to make revelations. He said, "If you do not give me something, I will tell something." All at once Mr. Walker became silent, he retired to Sandymount, and he (Mr. Reynolds) got no interpretation of his silence until he saw his name down for this retiring pension. This transaction ought to excite inquiry on the part of the Government. The Commissioners of Public Works each received-a salary of 979l. 19s. 9d., he supposed on! Rory O'More's principle that there was f "luck in odd numbers." What were these Commissioners doing? He would tell them. They were doing nothing. He believed that one man of business would do more than the whole four Commissioners put together.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the transaction to which the hon. Member referred occurred two years ago, and he was not prepared to explain it without making inquiry, which he would do immediately.
§ MR. GROGANthought that Mr. Griffith's salary (1,500l.) was not excessive, and that too much rather than too little labour was thrown upon him. A correct and uniform valuation of the whole country was exceedingly necessary.
§ MR. G. A. HAMILTONbelieved that there never was a public department more overwhelmed with work during the last few years than the Board of Works, which had the charge of the fisheries, the arterial and local drainage, and the public works of Ireland.
§ MR. REYNOLDSmaintained that the Board of Works had too many commissioners, and that some of them were very inefficient. A man named Mason, a book- 650 keeper of the Board of Works, had received draughts upon the Bank of Ireland, which it was proved were signed in blank by Colonel Jones. The public were robbed: in consequence, and Mason was convicted. If the board were presided over by a man of business, and not by a military man, one person would be quite sufficient to do the entire work.
SIR D. NORREYScomplained that the individual who was to superintend the valuation of Ireland had been withdrawn from that duty, and other duties imposed on him, which prevented him from performing the duty of valuation, for which he was so well qualified.
§ SIR W. SOMERVILLEsaid, he was surprised to hear any one state that the Board of Works in Ireland had but little to do. He believed that no department in the empire had more duties to discharge, or discharged its duties under all the circumstances of the case in a more satisfactory manner. He should observe, with respect to a statement which had fallen from his hon. Friend the Member for Kerry, that Her Majesty's Ministers were fully sensible of the expediency of completing at the earliest possible moment a uniform valuation in Ireland, and that they would use their best efforts for the accomplishment of that object.
MR. V. SMITHdid not doubt that the Board of Works in Ireland had important and multifarious duties to perform, but it was a question for the House whether the board should continue to perform those duties, and whether the public money should be voted for the maintenance of the board. In England such duties were discharged by local bodies, which were enabled to bring to bear on the affairs entrusted to them a much more effective supervision and control than could be exercised by any public office. He was strongly of opinion that it would be greatly for the profit of Ireland if a similar system could be introduced in that country.
SIR R. FERGUSONsaid, that the fault lay with the grand juries, who imposed the works alluded to on the Board of Works, which there was nothing to prevent their performing themselves.
§ COLONEL DUNNEhad heard with great pleasure the observation of the right hon. Member for Northampton, that in Ireland these matters should be managed in as local a manner as possible. Every Irishman was, he believed, agreed upon that point. A great many things were com- 651 mitted to the Board of Works which they ought not to manage, the fisheries for example. He did not wish to get rid of the Board of Works altogether, but he desired to see a separate board for the fisheries.
§ MR. HENLEYasked whether the accounts of the Board of Works with the Treasury had been brought tip nearer than they were two or three years ago, when they were much in arrear, and when it was said in excuse, that the board was so overwhelmed with its duties that it had no time to make up the accounts.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the arrear which had accumulated in bringing up the accounts of the Board of Works was as near as possible wiped off.
§ Vote agreed to.