HC Deb 17 March 1892 vol 2 cc1053-4
MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland are aware of the provisions of the Mullingar Water Act, which enable the Guardians of that Union to recover the costs and expenses of obtaining the said Act, particularly Section 41, in which it is stated that those costs and expenses— Shall be recouped by and charged to the moneys to be borrowed by the Guardians under the powers of the Act"; whether the Guardians ever obtained a loan under Section 31 of the Act; and, if not, under what section have they proceeded to strike a special rate of 4s. 8¼d. in the £1 on the town of Mullingar to recover in one levy the £1,400 expended in obtaining the Act; and why the repayment of that sum should not be spread over a term of 60 years, as laid down by the Act?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.

As I stated in reply to a previous question, the power of the Guardians in the case mentioned is purely a legal question, and they appear to be taking the advice of their counsel. The Local Government Board have no title to interfere.

MR. TUITE

I desire to state I have seen the opinion of counsel, and it is stated the action of the Guardians was not legal.

MR. JACKSON

Then surely it is quite open to any ratepayer to raise the question.