§ MR. GABBETTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire land, Whether the Board of Works have lately refused to lend the Harbour Commissioners of Limerick money to build labourers' dwellings; whether the opinion of Counsel, on which such refusal was founded, was wholly or partially founded on the assumption that the said Commissioners did not employ labourers; if so, on what authority such assumption was based, and who informed the Board of Works that the said Commissioners do not employ labourers; and, if he will lay upon the Table of the House Copies of any memorials or letters addressed by the secretary of the Harbour Commis- 840 sioners, or any other person purporting to act on their behalf, to the Board of Works, and the replies thereto, with the case submitted to the Counsel of the Board of Works, and any documents therein referred to, and Counsel's opinion thereon?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, the Board of Works, acting on legal advice, have declined to make the loan applied for by the Limerick Harbour Commissioners for the purpose of building labourers' dwellings. Counsel's opinion was founded in part on the assumption that those Commissioners did not of themselves employ labourers; this was inferred from the statement put forward in their Memorial applying for the loan. It is not usual or convenient to publish cases laid before counsel; and I do not think the importance of the other Papers is such as would justify the Treasury in presenting them to Parliament. If, however, the hon. Member will call upon me at the Treasury, I shall be happy to show him the Correspondence.