§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has inquired into the practice of the Irish Board of Works in regard to loans to tenants under section thirty-one of the Land Act of 1881, and ascertained whether it has happened in numerous cases that the Board, after obtaining a fee of ten shillings from the applying tenant, and delaying for several months to deal with his application, have 1160 at length informed him that they would not proceed to take any steps in the case until the tenant forwarded to the office of the Board a receipt to prove that he had paid his rent up to the last customary gale day; if so, by virtue of what law or regulation this practice is adopted by the Board; and, having regard to the efforts made by many tenants to avail themselves of the Arrears Act by payment of the rent for 1881, the Treasury, in case they continue to insist on any evidence in regard to payment of rent as a condition precedent to allowing a loan to a tenant under section thirty-one, will consider whether it may not be expedient to regard the condition as satisfied on proof that the rent had been paid up to the last gale day of 1881?
§ MR. COURTNEYI am assured that there has been no delay in replying to applications such as is implied in the Question; but applicants have often delayed their answers to the necessary queries. As regards the question of payment of rent, no inquiry is made when the landlord has consented to postpone the rent to the new charge; but when he has not, then the Board of Works are required, by the rules made under Section 1 of the Land Act, to be satisfied that rent has been paid up to the last customary gale day. This is obviously necessary in order to insure that the loan is properly secured.