MR. JUSTIN HUNTLY M'CARTHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, With reference to the proposed dwelling for a labourer named Martin Donnelly, of the Union of Athlone, Ireland, whether he will state the name of the employer who offered him "a house, kitchen garden, and rood of land, provided he would take service with him;" whether the Local Government Board has made or 628 will make inquiries whether such offer was ever personally or Bond fide made; whether he is aware that the labourer, Donnelly, absolutely denies it; whether the Kiltoom (Athlone Union) Sanitary Officer has expressed himself as satisfied with the sanitary arrangements of labourers' cottages in Donnelly's vicinity; and, whether, under "The Labourers' (Ireland) Act, 1883," Donnelly is in any way deprived of his free option to labour for the employers of a district at wages agreed upon in preference to working for one individual?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am informed that the name of the employer who made the offer is Mr. J. B. Greene, of Lecarrow. I am not aware of the precise circumstances under which the offer was made, nor does it appear necessary to inquire. The Committee of the Guardians who had the matter before them had the testimony of the Guardian of the division and several cesspayers. There is nothing in the Labourers' Act requiring a labourer provided with a house to work for any particular individual; but the view that the Sanitary Authority seem to have taken of the matter is, that as they understood Donnelly could obtain a suitable residence otherwise, it was unnecessary to provide one for him under the Labourors' Act.