HC Deb 25 February 1890 vol 341 cc1149-50
DR. TANNER (Cork, Mid)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the refusal of the Vice Guardians of the Cork Union to the request of Mr. William D'Esterre Parker, who has been an elected Guardian for the past 30 years, as expressed in the following letter:— Sir,—In consequence of the numerous complaints which have been made to me by the poor people in receipt of outdoor relief in the Monkstown Division whose weekly stipends have been reduced, I will thank the Vice Guardians to allow the relieving officer to let me see the application and outdoor relief book on Saturday for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of their complaints, with the view of bringing the question under the consideration of the Vice Guardians, in the hope that, when the individual cases are fully inquired into by them, they will be good enough, at this particularly inclement season, to discontinue the reduced scale, and allow the poor what they were in the habit of getting, except in any cases where the circumstances had since altered. — Faithfully yours, W. D'Esterre Parker; and why this request was refused this gentleman?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOOR,) Manchester, E.

The Vice Guardians of Cork Union did not see any reason to direct the relieving officer to produce his books for the examination proposed. To permit such a practice on the part of individuals would tend not only to an unnecessary waste of time of relieving officers, but also to an undue interference with the discharge of their duties; but the Vice Guardians informed Mr. Parker that they would carefully consider any case he might bring before them. It is the case that Mr. Parker has been a Guardian for many years.

MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)

May I ask whether, in the present extraordinary administration of the Poor Law in Cork, any facilities will be given to the ratepayers or their representatives to supervise or ascertain how outdoor relief is granted?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not believe that anything contrary to law is going on in Cork.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the amount of the expenditure per head in Cork Workhouse, including establishment charges?

MR. A. J BALFOUR

I have no information.