§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, What precautions have been taken to secure that loans of money advanced to tenants in Ireland for the improvements of their holdings are applied to the purposes for which they have been lent; whether he is aware that such moneys have in some cases been used for the purchase of cattle; and, whether it is held that the acquisition of stock for a farm is an improvement within the meaning of the Acts authorising advances to tenants?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, very great attention has been paid to the point referred to by the right hon. Gentleman. In the first place, the borrowers have to enter into a bond, with two solvent sureties, for the proper application of the money. Then the loans are advanced in five instalments, and none of these after the first may be paid until the local Inspector certifies that the previous one has been expended in a proper manner, and full value given for its amount. The Board of Works are satisfied that work has in every case been done to the full amount of the money advanced. The suggestion that loans have been used for the purchase of cattle is founded, I believe, on idle gossip. Perhaps I may be allowed to refer the right hon. Gentleman to the last annual Report of the Board of Works, in which considerable space is devoted to this subject.