§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the following statement, laid on 27th June before the South Dublin Board of Guardians by Mr. M'Donogh, a member of that body—
That the bulk of the rates are paid by Catholics, four-fifths of the inmates are Catholics, and yet out of the twenty doctors employed by the Board and drawing salaries to the amount of £3,166 per annum, two only are Catholic. The majority is Protestant and Conservative, because Catholics by social position, intelligence, and rating qualifications entitled to the Commission of the peace are not appointed, and Conservative magistrates, rated much lower, are sent to the Board as ex-officio Guardians;and, whether the several statements in the foregoing are true; and, if so, whether he will recommend the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to take some steps to rectify the inequality complained of?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe statement mentioned appears to have been made by Mr. M'Donogh. The Local Government Board have no information as to the proportion of the rates paid by Roman Catholics. The proportion of the workhouse inmates of that persuasion appears to be substantially as stated in the question. I am not aware whether the majority is due to the circumstances alleged; but the Lord Chancellor of Ireland is always anxious to place on the Commission of the Peace any properly-qualified Roman Catholic who may be recommended to him by the Lord Lieuten ant of the county.