§ MR. O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the distribution of outdoor relief in 1880 at Stokestown, county Roscommon, was attended with irregularity and abuse; whether the Local Government inspector, Colonel Deane, reported to the Local Government Board, Ireland, that the irregularity and abuses were chiefly due to the incompetency of the clerk of the union; whether serious complaints were made against this officer in reference to the distribution of seeds in the same union and about the same period; and, whether the Local Government Board, Ireland, will consider the advisability of superannuating that officer?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the Local Government Board inform me that it is true that the distribution of outdoor relief at Stokestown in 1880 was attended with irregularity and abuse. The late Colonel Deane reported that he feared the clerk of the Union must have checked the books of the relieving officer in a perfunctory manner; but Major Spaight, the Inspector who succeeded Colonel Deane, did not entertain an unfavour- 1817 able opinion of the clerk, and the Local Government Board consider that the abuses were mainly owing to the action of the Board of Guardians. Complaints were made with regard to the purchase and distribution of seed; but it does not appear that any charge of improper conduct was substantiated against the clerk. The Local Government Board have no power to grant a superannuation allowance to the clerk of the Union, and they do not consider that they have any grounds for taking steps with the view of removing him from the position he holds.
§ MR. O'KELLYasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the distribution of the seed referred to was entrusted to the subordinate agents of the local landlord; that no effort was made to control it; and that a great number of persons had been proceeded against who complained that they never received any seed in this manner?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, that nothing like this had been reported, though the relief was distributed on a scale that was considered excessive.