§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return of all Correspondence that has taken place, or Orders made, or Resolutions or Minutes received by the Local Government Board (Ireland), relative to the payment of £25 a-year by the Government through the Guardians of the Belfast Union to the assistant teacher (Mr. Bellard) for the instruction of the boys at the union workhouse in instrumental music, which salary has been paid by the Government since 1872, and is now withheld by reason of the Local Government Board declining to give the required certificate to the Government approving said pay- 1647 ment; and, if he will state why said certificate has been refused?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, the reason why the certificate to which the hon. Member refers was refused was that it did not appear to the Government that the cost of music-masters was a legitimate item of workhouse expenditure. I will look into the Correspondence and see if there is any which can, with advantage, be laid upon the Table of the House.