§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If, before the passing of "The Seed Supply 'Ireland) Act, 1880," the Local Government Board issued a Circular to various unions, stating the maximum amount of seed 1770 which they could issue to each tenant under the Act; if the amount of seed so named was totally erroneous; if, in consequence of this mistake on the part of the Local Government Board, considerable delay was caused in putting the Act into force; if this mistaken Circular was the cause of much subsequent hurry in the issue of the seed; and, will we cause an inquiry to be made into the mistakes originating in the issue of this Circular?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)It is not the case that there was any mistake made by the Local Government Board in regard to the Seed Act. The facts are that, owing to the urgency of the matter, the Government of the day authorized the Board to communicate with the Guardians of certain unions enabling them to anticipate the passing of the Bill and to purchase seed to be distributed under certain conditions. The Bill was, to some extent, modified when passing through the House, the effect being somewhat to enlarge the powers of the Boards of Guardians. I am not aware of any ground for a general inquiry into the matter.