MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the fact that on the occasion of the election of John M'Williams to the rate-collectorship of the Cragkan Division of the Boyle Union, the rate of poundage was fixed at 8d. on a division by the vote of a majority of the Board before proceeding to the election, notwithstanding that the Board was apprised that one of the candidates offered solvent security for the collection of the rate at 4d.; how many ex-officio guardians and how many elected guardians voted for an eight-penny poundage, and how many ex-officio, as distinguished from elected guardians, voted for the reduced poundage; whether it was stated that the rates are already satisfactorily collected in another Division of the Union at 4d.; whether the persons who voted for the eight penny rate were, with one or two exceptions, those who subsequently elected Mr. M'Williams; whether, in view of these circumstances, the Local Government Board will be requested to reconsider their sanction of the appointment; whether, with regard to the allegation that the Local Government Board had. no information as to the procurement of Mr. Corry's resignation by M'Williams, the Local Government Board have received a communication from Mr. Mahon, stating that Mr. Corry's resignation is in M'Williams' handwriting; whether Mahon's protest was forwarded in the usual course by the Local Government Board to the Board of Guardians for their observations, and was suppressed by the clerk; whether the clerk admitted publicly that he had inserted 8d. as the poundage rate in the advertisement without the authority of the Board; and, whether he is the person whose neglect of duty caused the breakdown of the Labourers' Act in the Boyle Union, and who boasted at a meeting of the Board that he had not read the Act, and did not intend to do so?
§ MR. TREVELYANOn the day of the election it was sought to reduce the poundage from 8d. to 4d., and this pro- 1472 posal was negatived by a majority of 5, the voting being for, ex officio, I elected 22, total 23; against, ex officio, 21, elected 7, total 28. With respect to the security offered by the candidate who was prepared to collect for the lower rate, the clerk of the Union states that one of the parties named as his surety states that he would not sign a bond for him. It is true that some Guardians stated that in a neighbouring Division the rates were satisfactorily collected at 4d. But the clerk of the Union reports that this is not the case, as there is a very large arrear outstanding in that Division. The Guardians who voted for adhering to the poundage of 8d. were generally those who voted for Mr. M'Williams's appointment. These facts would not justify the Local Government Board in overruling the action of the Board of Guardians in regard to the election. After the Local Government Board had sanctioned the appointment of Mr. M'Williams, they received from Mr. Mahon a communication as stated in the Question, and they have informed Mr. Mahon that if he has any evidence to support his statement that Mr. M'Williams induced the former collector, Mr. Corry, to resign "for a consideration," the question of removing Mr. M'Williams from office will at once be considered. Mr. Mahon's letter was sent by the Local Government Board to the Guardians. It was not suppressed by the clerk, but was laid before the Guardians at their next meeting. The clerk has not replied to the inquiry in the last paragraph but one of the Question, but the poundage of 8d. has been allowed in the district for many years. The clerk of the Union denies that he ever made the statement attributed to him in the last paragraph of the Question; and the Local Government Board inform me that the alleged breakdown of the Labourers' Act in Boyle Union appears to have been caused by the Guardians' omission to make their scheme and give the necessary notices in due time.