§ MR. MAINS (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the atten- 8 tion of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the fact that the Chairman of the Belfast Board of Guardians, at a recent meeting of that Body, brought before them a Report, founded on his own personal experience and inquiry from the books of the workhouse, that the master, accompanied by an officer named Wilson, were absent from their duties without leave from 3rd to 6th May, from 12th to l5th May, and on 17th and 18th May, 1893; whether the matron was on leave at the same time; whether he is aware that the assistant master Ball stated to the Chairman that the master was only absent a short time, when in fact he was absent for days; whether an inquiry will now be ordered to ascertain the relationship or collusion between this workhouse master and his subordinates, as to their general trustworthiness and veracity, and also with a view to eliciting why such serious misconduct and neglect of duty was not entered on the minutes of the proceedings of the Belfast Board of Guardians, and why no punishment was meted out to either of these officers?
MR. J. MORLEY(1 and 2.) The absence of the master for about 28 hours on the 17th and 18th May was referred to at a recent meeting of the Guardians, but there was no reference at this or any other meeting to the master's absence on the other dates mentioned. Mr. Wilson was absent at the same time, having previously obtained permission from the master, and the matron left the workhouse on the 18th with the approval of the Board of Guardians. (3.) The assistant master states he was asked by the Chairman whether he knew of the whereabouts of the master, and replied that he did not. (4.) The Guardians having since expressed their desire that the matron and assistant master should be in the workhouse during the master's absence, no further cause of complaint is expected to arise in this Aspect, and the Local Government Board, under the circumstances, do not think the matter calls for further inquiry on their part.