§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he would have any objection to lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing the actual amount of money paid by the Board of Public Works in Ireland for each of the several Piers and Harbour works enumerated in the Return, No. 244, of the present Session, up to the date of that Return?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHThe Return asked for by the hon. Member could be given up to any date required; but most of the works are being executed by contract, on which payments are only made periodically on account of work done, after deductions, according to the terms of the contract, varying from 10 to 20 per cent. and without any allowance for machinery or materials on the ground. The Return would, therefore, be so misleading that I think it would be useless to give it.