§ MR. P. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the 21st January, 1892, the Board of Guardians of the Manor-hamilton Union adopted a resolution calling on the Local Government Board for Ireland to reduce the rating qualification of Guardian in the Union from £20 to £10; can he state why, up to the present, the Local Government Board have neglected to comply with the request of the Guardians; is he aware that in several Electoral Divisions of the Union there is no resident ratepayer qualified and willing to act as Guardian; and will he, in accordance with the resolution of the Board, be good enough to have the rating qualification reduced in time to permit of the change taking effect at the next election for Guardians in the Union?
§ MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. MORLET)It is a fact that the Guardians of this Union in January, 1892, adopted a resolution asking the Local Government Board to reduce the qualification for the office of Guardian from £20 to £15; but the Board having obtained a Return of the number of persons in the Union eligible 1166 for the position of Guardian on the existing qualification, informed the Guardians that they were not prepared to accede to their request. It appears from the Return referred to that in four out of the 22 Divisions of the Union the number of persons rated at £20 is under five, but I am informed that it is not the fact that in none of these four is there no person qualified. As I stated on Thursday last, in reply to a question of the hon. Member for South Roscommon, the question of making a general reduction in the qualification for the office of Guardian in all the unions in Ireland is at present under consideration.
§ MR. P. M'HUGHWill a decision be arrived at in time to permit advantage being taken of it at the next election?
§ MR. BRYCEI believe it is hoped to arrive at some further decision upon the general question in time for that.