§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a representation, under the Labourers (Ireland); Acts, 1883 and 1885, was made to the Board of Guardians of the Lurgan Union on the 9th June last, suggesting the erection of additional house accommodation in Soldierstown, Aghalee; whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been directed to the action of the said Board in reference to this matter; and, whether the Local Government Board took any steps to ascertain whether there was sufficient house accommodation within the meaning of the Labourers' Acts in the said district?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HANMAN) () (who replied) Kent, Isle of Thanetsaid: The Board of Guardians of Lurgan Union had before them the application referred to, but decided it was not one 1339 which could be entertained. The attention of the Local Government Board was called to this case by the applicant. They communicated with the Guardians, who stated that they had refused the application on the ground that in no part of the Union was there any difficulty in obtaining this class of house accommodation, vacant cottier houses being of late years the rule, and not the exception, in the rural portion of the Union. The Local Government Board did not consider it necessary to interfere further in the matter.