§ MR. HARRIS (Galway, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it be true that the Town Commissioners of Ballinasloe do not charge the constabulary of that town for the gas which is consumed in their barracks; whether a large number of the Commissioners are licensed publicans, and is it a fact that 974 a former member of that body, William Ivors, had his licence taken from him some short time after he had opposed the giving of gas free of charge to the police; and, whether the Town Commissioners have a right to exempt certain persons from paying in such cases; and, if not, was the public auditor (Captain O'Harra) acting within the Law when he passed the accounts of the Ballinasloe Town Board without taking notice of this practice?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I am informed that the facts are as stated with regard to the question of gas. A large number of the Town Commissioners are licensed publicans. William Ivors, when a member, moved a resolution charging the police for gas; but the resolution fell through for want of a seconder. He ceased to be a Commissioner shortly afterwards, and 12 months after that he lost his licence in consequence of intemperance, which led to a shocking piece of misconduct on his part. I am in communication with the Local Government Board in reference to the queries in the last paragraph of the Question, and I am not at this moment in a position to give more definite information; but I may observe that any person who may be aggrieved by an allowance or disallowance made by the auditor may appeal to the Board, and that no appeal has yet been made in this case.