§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If evictions have been recently carried out on the property of the Earl of Bantry and of Mr. W. S. Bird; if the relieving officer of the Bantry Union was present at these evictions; if Mr. F. W. Payne, Chairman of the Bantry Board of Guardians, is agent to the Earl of Bantry; if Mr. W. S. Bird is Deputy Vice Chairman of the Bantry Board of Guardians; whether both those gentlemen voted with the majority against a motion requesting 1075 the relieving officer of the Bantry Union to place all notices of evictions served on him in his official capacity before the Bantry Board of Guardians; and, whether the Local Government Board for Ireland will compel the Guardians of the Bantry Union to require the relieving officer to place all notices of eviction served on him before the Bantry Board of Guardians?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol W.), in reply, said, two evictions had taken place, as stated in the Question, on the properties mentioned. The relieving officer of the Bantry Union was not present at the evictions, nor was he under any obligation to be so. Mr. Payne, Chairman of the Bantry Board of Guardians, was not now agent for the Earl of Bantry; but Mr. Bird occupied the position mentioned in the Question. Both gentlemen voted with the majority against a motion requesting the relieving officer to place all notices of eviction served on him before the Board of Guardians. There did not appear to be any legal obligation on the Guardians to require the relieving officer to do so. At the same time, the Local Government Board thought it would be right to do so, and they had so informed the Guardians.