MR. FLYN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in April, 1890, the labourers who occupy cottages under the Guardians of the Kanturk Union (County Cork) presented a Memorial praying the Guardians to reduce the rent of these cottages, which Memorial was largely signed by the ratepayers of the Union; and that in May, 1890, the Board of Guardians at a general meeting passed a resolution making a general reduction of 3d. per week in the rent of the cottages; and did the Local Government Board refuse to sanction this resolution of the Guardians; if so, for what reasons and under what authority has the Local Government Board acted in overruling the action of the Guardians?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes; it appears to be the fact that the Guardians of Kanturk Union passed a resolution to the effect mentioned, but subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board. The Board having been thus asked to approve the Guardians proposal, and it appearing that the rents already charged in the Union were less than the rents at which such cottages are usually let, the Board informed the Guardians that they could not see any reason which would justify them in further reducing the rents and thereby increasing the tax upon the ratepayers in respect of these cottages. The effect of the reduction would have been to throw a charge of £2 13s. 2d. for each house, per year, upon the ratepayers until the loan is repaid, without taking into account the costs of repairs, insurance, and other existing expenses.