HC Deb 14 June 1883 vol 280 cc534-5
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the proposal of the Belfast Guardians of the 29th ultimo, to erect a new detached dwelling house for the present workhouse master, at a cost of £600 or £700; is said proposed house outside workhouse grounds; if it be true that the master was only appointed about two years ago, and since this time upwards of £200 have boon expended in general improvements to, and furniture for, his apartments, in addition to the furniture pre viously purchased for them; is it true that this expenditure was incurred in order to accommodate the master's wife and family, who are maintained out of the rates; are these apartments the same as those occupied by all previous masters; and, will he undertake to have this proposal of the guardians set aside on the ground that the expenditure is unnecessary?

MR. TREVELYAN

, in reply, said, he had already partly answered this Question. In consequence of the master's apartments having been condemned as unhealthy and unfit to live in, the Guardians had resolved to erect a dwelling-house for him, at a cost not to exceed £400. No site had been selected; but it was understood that the proposal was to build the house within the workhouse grounds, near the main entrance. The Local Government Board would not approve of a site outside the grounds. The present master was appointed in February, 1881, since which time £78 had been spent in furnishing his rooms, which contained hardly any furniture at the time of his appointment. They were the same rooms as those occupied by his immediate predecessor; but former masters had other accommodation which was not now available. The late master lived alone in the workhouse. The present master's wife and family resided with him. It was not the case, however, that they were supported out of the rates, and he did not quite understand that part of the Question. The whole matter was still before the Guardians, and he understood that notice had been given to rescind the resolution to build the house.