HC Deb 08 February 1884 vol 284 cc299-300
MR. MARUM

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When he will reintroduce the "Land Improvement and Arterial Drainage (Ireland) Bill;" whether he is aware that, at the suggestion last December of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the promoters of the Kilkenny Arterial and River Drainage Scheme held it over, in the expectation that some alteration in the Law in regard to giving tenants a voice in the undertaking of such works might be embodied in such Bill; whether he has considered the following Resolutions passed unanimously at Public Drainage meetings held in Kilkenny, especially at one held on the 10th of October last, and ordered to be forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer:— 1st. That powers should he conferred upon County Boards to undertake certain Drainage operations of a public character or affecting the public: 2nd. That powers of Drainage to prolonged distances outside Drainage Districts should be conferred upon Drainage Boards, in order to safeguard against Consequential damages: 3rd. That the incidence of Drainage Taxation should be primarily placed upon occupiers, in order to induce the assent of landlords under a permissive measure: 4th. That statutory termors should be constituted as 'owners' for the purposes of Drain-ago Districts, in regard to which essential particulars 'The Land Improvement and Arterial Drainage (Ireland) Bill, 1883,' introduced by the Government last Session of Parliament, is deficient; and, whether he will be able to carry out the objects therein expressed?

MR. COURTNEY

Perhaps the hon. Member will permit me to answer this Question. The subject of this Bill has received considerable attention during the Recess, and it is proposed to bring in a Bill with such modifications as will remove the difficulties owing to the present system of land tenure of making loans to tenants for works of drainage. If that Bill is read a second time, I will propose that it shall, with the Board of Works Consolidation Bill, be referred to a Select Committee. I believe the fact is as stated in the second paragraph of the Question. I have not been able to trace the communication; but I do not think it will be of much importance, as the matter will be dealt with in the manner I have suggested.