§ MR. MORRISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he will consider the question of amalgamating some of the small poor law unions in Ireland, with a view to effecting a large saving of useless expenditure; and if the Local Government Board of Ireland have received any Petitions on the subject?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH, There are very few "small Poor Law Unions" in Ireland, if the area of Irish Unions be compared with that of English Unions, and from none of the smallest of them have petitions for amalgamation been received by the Local Government Board. But I believe that some memorials on the subject have been received from other quarters; and I think it better to defer any statement with regard to it until the hon. Member for Tyrone (Mr. Macartney) brings forward the proposal of which he has given Notice.