HC Deb 14 June 1888 vol 327 cc104-5
MR. HARRIS (Galway, E)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the inhabitants of Ballinasloe suffer great inconvenience for want of a Town Hall that could be used as a place for the transaction of public business; that there are two halls in the town—namely, the Agricultural Hall and the Farming Society Building, both of which were erected for public uses and in a great degree by public money, but have now passed into the hands of the ground landlords, who have rented them to private individuals; and, whether he is aware that the Town Commissioners have been unable to secure the Agricultural Hall as a Town Hall, though they offered to give the same rent for it as is paid at present; and, if so, would the Local Government Board, by their advice or otherwise, aid the townspeople of Ballinasloe in their legal efforts to get possession of this hall? The hon. Gentleman also asked, Whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that in the most central position in Ballinasloe there are sheds which are used as slaughter-houses, which emit a most offensive odour, dangerous to the health of the town; that the inhabitants of Ballinasloe and the Town Commissioners signed a requisition asking Lord Clancarty to remove those sheds, on the ground that they were a public nuisance, an impediment to the traffic, and a disfigurement to the town; that his Lordship refused, on the ground that they were a market house, in which his family had a vested interest of such a nature that he had no legal right to disturb it, especially as it had relation to the tolls and customs; and, if so, would the Local Government Board interfere and cause the removal of these sheds, and thus prevent the expense of a law suit?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

, in reply, said, that these Questions required local inquiry, and he would, therefore, ask the hon. Member to postpone them until Tuesday.

MR. HARRIS

I shall be engaged next Tuesday at the Law Courts.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

, said, he might put down the Questions for Monday; but he could not promise to be in a position to answer them by that day.