§ MR. HARRIS (Galway, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the Ballinasloe Agricultural Hall, a building erected for public purposes and in part by public money, is at present let at an annual rent of less than £40, which if capitalized at 10 years' purchase would amount to £400; whereas a Town Hall of like proportions and suitability cannot be built for less than £3,000; and, under these circumstances, would the Government suggest some means by which the present Hall could be transferred on equitable terms from Lord Clancarty to the Town Board, and by so doing save the town of Ballinasloe this unnecessary expenditure of a largo amount of public money?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: The Town Clerk of Ballinasloe states that the Agricultural Hall was erected by means of money raised by the issue of shares, which he believed were bought up by the late Lord Clancarty. He also states that the Hall is let to a tenant for £30 a-year. The Local Government Board cannot say what the cost of a Town Hall of like proportions and suitability would amount to. They have no statutory power to interfere between the Commissioners and the owner of the Agricultural Hall in the manner suggested, that being a matter of private agreement altogether. 1265 As already stated, they will give attention to any application made to them by the Town Commissioners to sanction a loan to provide a building.
§ MR. HARRISasked, again, if the Local Government Board would have no power to take over this Hall?
§ MR. MADDENNo; that would be a matter of private agreement.