HC Deb 01 March 1886 vol 302 cc1527-8
MAJOR SAUNDERSON

asked the Chief Seretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following Letter, published in The Daily Express of the 18th February, and addressed to the Clerk of the Tipperary Board of Guardians by the Rev. John Hennessey, Roman Catholic Curate of Hollyford:— Hollyford, Feb. 14, 1886. Dear Sir,—In reply to your Letter of the 11th instant, I beg to inform you and the Board of Tipperary Union that I have convened a special meeting of the Irish National League this day. The unanimous vote of the Committee was for Timothy O'Brien, he being a member of the Irish National League, and Fitzgerald not. At a former meeting of our Committee, held on last August, it was unanimously passed that members of the branch should get a preference of the labourers' cottages. Yours faithfully, John Hennessey, C.C. W. B. Reardon, Esq., Clerk, Tipperary Union. And, whether any action will be taken by the Government to prevent the Labourers' Act, passed for the benefit of the entire labouring population, being confined to the Members of the National League?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY)

I have seen the report, from which I gather that the letter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was addressed to the Tipperary Board of Guardians. It certainly indicates au attempt to improperly limit the sphere of their operations; but there is no reason to believe that it will have that effect, as the Board of Guardians appear to have resented the interference, and to have been well aware that the Act of Parliament gives them absolute control over the erection of labourers' cottages. I will only add that the case has not yet been decided by the Board of Guardians. Therefore, the alleged intimidation has so far failed to have any effect.