§ MR. BIGGAR (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the fact that the Belfast Board of Guardians, in the year 1888, sanctioned leave of absence from duty, for 15 weeks, to Mr. Thomas Madden, assistant schoolmaster in the Belfast Workhouse, for the purpose of attending a course of divinity lectures in Trinity College, Dublin, and graduating for the Church of Ireland ministry; is there any precedent for such extended leave to an official in good health in any other Irish workhouse; was his salary paid, although absent, and has he resumed his duties; is he aware that Mr. Madden was convicted of drunkenness before the magistrates, on or about 26th December, 1888; were any of the convicting Justices Guardians of the Belfast Union; did the solicitor for the Guardians (Mr. Harper) defend Madden; and, if so, was his fee paid by the Board; and, did Mr. Madden bear a good character previously, and will his services be continued?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, EIt appears that Mr. Madden, assistant schoolmaster of the workhouse, obtained leave of absence from the Guardians from the 11th of October, 1887, to the 26th of February, 1888, for the purpose stated in the first paragraph of the question. Extended leave has been given to school teachers in other unions to enable them to attend a course of educational training at the training colleges in Dublin. Mr. Madden states that he was successful at the examination. His salary was paid to him during his absence, but he provided a properly qualified substitute, He resumed duty, the clerk reports, on the 26th February, 1888. Mr. Madden informed the clerk that he was convicted of drunkenness on the 26th of 695 December, 1888, but that he did not appear in Court. None of the convicting Justices were, according to the clerk's statement, members of the Board of Guardians. Mr. Harper did defend Mr. Madden, but not in his capacity as solicitor to the Guardians, Mr. Madden having paid his costs. Since his appointment in 1880 no charge had been recorded against Mr. Madden in their department which called for action on the part of the Local Government Board. The Local Government Board are now inquiring whether there has been anything connected with the conviction in December, 1888, and in Mr. Madden's general conduct since calling for the discontinuance of his services.