§ COLONEL NOLANasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If, at present, no loan to small tenants, for improvements, can be granted by the Board of Works in Ireland for a less sum than £50; and, if he would consider the propriety of so far modifying the rule as to permit of loans of £20 being advanced, provided that three or more tenants, residing in the same district, applied at the same time for loans exceeding in the aggregate £50, so that the expense of inspection need not be incurred for a less aggregate sum than £50?
§ MR. COURTNEYThe suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member was made some time ago, and was fully considered when made. The conclusion come to was that it would not be practicable, at least for some time to come, to reduce the minimum, amount of a loan under the 31st section of the Land Act. It is now very difficult to keep the work under this section from falling into arrear, and the difficulty would be increased by the adoption of the proposal. Moreover, while we believe that every legitimate case is met by the present rules, we fear that it would be practically impossible to combine the inspections in the manner suggested.