§ MR. HEYGATEasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether there exists any statutory obligation for the printing and publishing of the bulky volume, headed "Alphabetical Index of Town-lands and Towns of Ireland," in connection with the Census of 1871, price 8s. 6d., lately issued to Members; and, if not, whether the Treasury considers that the expense incurred by such publication, six years after the last Census, is justified by its general interest either for Parliament or the public?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThere is no statutory obligation of publishing an alphabetical index of townships and towns in Ireland. The information is, I am informed, necessary for some public Departments in Ireland, and, therefore, it was represented that it should be in existence; but I agree that it is not expedient that so bulky a volume should be presented and distributed as a Parliamentary Paper, and I may state that it shall not again occur.