§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any representations have been made to the Local Government Board as to the effect of the Board's rule that collectors are not to accept payment of the ordinary poor rate from persons liable for seed rate unless the latter also is paid at the same time; whether the rule in question threatens seriously to embarrass some Boards of Guardians; whether the rates due on many holdings at the present moment exceed the valuation; and, whether he will have the rule reconsidered?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER) (for Mr. TREVELYAN)Representations on this subject have been made to the Local Government Board. The practice does not, however, depend merely on a rule of the Board, as suggested in the Question, but upon the Act of Parliament, which provides that the seed rate is to be added to the poor rate, and "to be collected therewith. The Local Government Board cannot make any regulation inconsistent with the statute, and they have no power to authorize the separate collection of the rates. The Board are not aware that the rule threatens seriously to embarrass some Boards of Guardians, nor have any cases been brought to their notice in which the rates due on a holding exceed the valuation. In any event the matter would be outside their powers.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked whether Abbeyleix Union has not communicated 276 with the Board on the matter?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)That may be so. I am informed that representations were made.