HC Deb 10 November 1884 vol 293 cc1377-8
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to The Northern Whig newspaper report of the proceedings of the Belfast Board of Guardians of the previous day, in which it is alleged by Mr. Jackson, a largo ratepayer in the Union, that an irregular, if not fraudulent, system of book-keeping has prevailed in the Belfast Workhouse for a long time past; if it be true that the master of this workhouse effected sales of farm produce, and other workhouse property, for one whole year and more, and made no entry, nor kept any record, of said sales in the books set apart by the Local Government Board for that purpose; if it be true that he has disregarded a resolution of the Board of Guardians requiring him to keep an inventory of the furniture and movable effects of the workhouse; if it be correct that forty paupers more were on the books of the workhouse, on the 29th September 1884, than were in the house; is it a fact that the present numbers in the house do not agree with those on the books; is it true that Major Stoddart, Government Auditor, and Inspector Hamilton, promised to conceal the master's misconduct, and did keep it concealed from the public, until Mr. Jackson's letter disclosed their conduct; have the Local Government Board condoned these offences; and, will an inquiry on oath be instituted into the whole question, or what steps will be taken?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

As this Question involves a great amount of detail, to answer which would occupy too much of the time of the House, I venture to ask the hon. Member to be content to receive a detailed answer from me in writing. The conclusion, however, to which the Local Government Board have come is that there is— No doubt that there have been irregularities in the management of Belfast Workhouse in regard to the matters referred to in the Question, but they have received the necessary attention from the Guardians and have been dealt with by them, and there does not seem to be any reason to believe that a fraudulent system of book-keeping has prevailed in the workhouse. The Local Government Board do not consider an inquiry on oath necessary. As regards the serious charges brought against two public officers in the Question, I may say that there are— No grounds whatever for imputing to Colonel Stoddart and Mr. Hamilton a desire to shield the Master from the consequences of any impropriety on his part. And the Local Government Board consider both these gentlemen incapable of acting in such a manner. They both distinctly deny having promised to conceal the Master's neglect, and the matter was brought before the Guardians by Mr. Hamilton at the first opportunity.