CLASS I. (Hansard, 14 June 1892)

§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)
I wish to inquire as to the costs arising in the case of Ryan against the Guardians of the Cavan Union. The right hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury told me some time ago that he would endeavour to give a final answer as to the decision of the Treasury in the matter. I want to know if the Treasury have come to any decision, and whether that decision can be now communicated to the House?

§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (SIR JOHN GORST,) Chatham
I think I explained to the hon. Member some time ago that the case could not be decided.

§ MR. KNOX
I think the right hon. Gentleman undertook to see whether there was any real reason why a decision in the case should not be made.

§ *SIR JOHN GORST
I did undertake to make inquiries to satisfy myself that the reasons for delay were valid. I also said if there was reason to press for a decision I would urge the Local Government Board to come to an immediate decision as to what they would recommend. I did make inquiries, and satisfied myself that the reasons they give for delaying the decision were valid.

§ MR. KNOX
What were they?

§ *SIR JOHN GORST
I cannot state the reasons. When I saw them I thought they were valid—to me they appeared sound.

§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)
The right hon. Gentleman tells us that he acquainted himself with the reasons alleged by the Local Government Board; and although that happened on a recent date, and he considered them satisfactory, they made no such permanent impression on the mind of the right hon. Gentleman as to enable him to give us the least idea of what the reasons were.

§ SIR JOHN GORST
I beg the hon. Member's pardon. I said they were reasons which I did not think it desirable to give.

§ MR. SEXTON
We understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that he had no clear idea of what the reasons were. If he has, then we must press him for further reasons. It is a case where the Board of Guardians consider themselves entitled to the heavy costs of a suit which was due to the action of a Government Inspector. The Inspector forced upon the Guardians a certain course, which course resulted in the Guardians being mulcted in costs. They come forward now, and we plead for them that they are entitled to be relieved of these costs by the Treasury. The right hon. Gentleman, in that manner which distinguishes him, has given three or four answers on the subject which have not enabled us to come to any conclusion whatever. He has suggested that there is a seed rate owing by this Union; but it is hard to see why a rate to be paid at some 1111 future date should govern altogether the separate question as to whether costs incurred, by the Guardians through the advice of an officer for whom the Treasury is responsible should not be settled now, without reference to what the Union may have to pay in August next, and upon another account. I have asked the right hon. Gentleman more than once whether, in case the Guardians pay this seed rate in August next, this question of costs would be settled; and if there were frankness and sincerity in the conduct of the case, he would give us a contingent assurance that if the rate were paid in August next, and therefore if the only reason suggested for delaying the termination of the question were settled, that legal costs would also be settled. If this assurance is not given, I can come to no other conclusion than that the right hon. Gentleman is endeavouring to get rid of Parliament and the Session, and that when the Guardians pay the seed rate it will be found that the engagements made by the right hon. Gentleman have been mere words, and that there is no satisfaction to be given by the Treasury in regard to the costs.