MR. O'BRIEN (for Mr. HEALY)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that, under the 1 and 2 Vic. c. 56, s. 19, the Local Government Board have power, by general order, to fix the qualification necessary for Poor Law Guardians in Ireland; and, whether, this being so, the Board propose to reduce the qualification in all Irish Unions to a uniform £12 rating, having regard to the approval given by the Government to a provision with this object, which was included in the Poor Law Guardians (Ireland) Bill, passed by the House of Commons during last Session?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt is true that the Local Government Board have such a power; but it is clearly not intended by the Acts now in force that they should use it in the manner suggested; and, the subject being now again before the Legislature, the Board would not deem it right to anticipate the decision with regard to it by any alteration in their procedure.