§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the manner in which the Belfast Workhouse master's books have been kept for some time past; if it is correct that goods have been charged in the provision books as having been supplied to paupers, which were never supplied; is it true that at a meeting of the Belfast Guardians on the 10th of April 1883 the said books were examined by several of the Guardians and found to contain false entries, erasures, and numerous alterations, &c.; did the Local Government Board Inspector examine the books also, and declare publicly before the Board of Guardians on the said date that the master's books were "cooked;" is it true that, in the face of this information, the Guardians made no minute of the facts nor took any action in the matter; and, will he be good enough to say whether or not he will direct further inquiry into these disclosures?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the Local Government Board inform me that they have been in communication with their Inspector at Belfast on this subject, and that he has reported that it is the case that at the meeting of the Belfast Guardians last week, certain irregularities in the master's provision books were observed and commented on, and the Inspector suggested to the Guardians that the manner of keeping the book adopted by that officer called for examination. The Guardians seemed to concur in the necessity of such a course, and the Chairman said the matter would receive attention. No formal resolution, however, on the subject was passed. The Local Government Board, with whom I entirely concur, think it necessary that further inquiry should be made, and will so direct.