HC Deb 17 December 1888 vol 332 cc447-8
MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any Correspondence between the Local Government Board of Ireland and Mr. Micks, their Surveyor, lately employed in Clare, with reference to the mediation of the latter between Colonel Vandeleur and his tenants, and with reference to any interview with Mr. Shaw Lefevre?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) (Dublin University)

said: It would be a most unusual course to lay before the House Correspondence which passed between the Local Government Board and one of its officers touching the discharge of his official duty. I, therefore, regret to say that the Government are unable to meet the desire of the right hon. Gentleman, as doing so would create a most inconvenient precedent.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

Am I to understand that the Chief Secretary still adheres to his statement, made the other night, that Mr. Micks would not be called to account for having been in communication with myself?

MR. MADDEN

The right hon. Gentleman must merely understand from my answer to his Question, which is a very specific answer, that the Government are not prepared to consent to the Return which he asks for. Any further Question on the subject should be addressed to the Chief Secretary.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

But my statement was specifically denied by the Chief Secretary; and I think, therefore, I am entitled to have an answer to that Question.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman maintain that the Report made by a Surveyor of the Local Government Board as to the relations between a landlord and his tenants comes within the discharge of his official duty?

MR. MADDEN

The Correspondence was in relation to the discharge of the Surveyor's duty.