§ MR. DEASY (Mayo, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Was there any truth in the statement that Mr. Stoney, J.P., D.L., of Rosturk Castle, County Mayo, had recently been appointed by the Lord Chancellor as one of the district collectors under the Court of Chancery; and whether, if so, Mr. Stoney is the same man who had recently been censured by an official of the Local Government Board, Mr. Hicks, with having been guilty of gross misconduct in the distribution of public funds entrusted to him by the House; and, whether he had also been censured by the Lord Chancellor?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I have no official information on the subject. I must remind the hon. Gentleman that the Lord Chancellor has nothing whatever to do with the appointment. It rests with the Land Court.
§ MR. DEASYWill the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Judges of the Landed Estates Court to the facts I have recited?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid such a proceeding would be entirely beyond the functions of the Executive.
§ MR. DEASYI beg to give Notice that on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House I shall draw attention to this matter.