§ MR. BIGGAR (Cavan, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is the qualification for Poor Law Guardians in the Bailieborough Union, in the County of Cavan, £30; is this the highest qualification required in any Union in Ireland; is the number of holdings in this Union valued at £30 161 and upwards fewer than in Unions in which the qualification is lower; and will the Local Government Board for Ireland give effect to the Resolution passed by the Bailieborough Board of Guardians on the 14th instant, requesting them to fix the qualification for Guardians in that Union at £20?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)The Local Government Board report that the facts are as stated in the Question with regard to the qualification for Poor Law Guardians in the Bailieborough Union, which has stood at the present figure for at least 36 years. The Resolution requesting the Local Government Board to fix the qualification at £20 was carried by a very narrow majority, and Notice has been given of a Motion to rescind it. As the election of Guardians will soon take place, the Local Government cannot carry out the proposed alteration this year, but will undertake to consider it carefully next year, and possibly carry it into effect, if the Guardians by a good majority are of opinion that such should be done.