§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Local Government Board in Ireland has been called to the fact that at a meeting of the Downpatrick Board of Guardians on the 30th May, the clerk reported that the requisition forms in the case of cottier tenants were not filled up, and that he had been unable to prepare his Parliamentary lists; and whether the Local Government Board will instruct Boards of Guardians as to their duties and powers for the enforcement of the law in such cases?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe clerk of the Union reports that he merely mentioned at the meeting for the information of the individual Guardians that the requisition forms were not being returned with the usual regularity, and that unless they were duly returned the lists would not be as accurate as was desirable; but that it is not the case as alleged by the hon. Member that he said he was unable to prepare his lists. The clerk also reports that he published a notice in a local paper, requesting the return of the forms within the specified time, and that they are now coming in. 296 In these circumstances, the Local Government Board do not see any necessity for further action in the matter.