HC Deb 20 February 1893 vol 8 cc1863-4
MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Cork City Council decided, by 25 votes to 7, on 27th January, that the expense incurred by the Mayor in going to Rome to present the Pope with an Address of Congratulation on his Episcopal Jubilee should be paid out of the rates; and if he can say whether the action of the Corporation, in taxing the Protestant minority of the city for such a purpose, is legal?

MR. W. REDMOND

Before the question is answered, might I be permitted to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the Protestant minority in the Cork Corporation voted in favour of this being done?

MR. W. O'BRIEN

Is it not the fact that the seven members who voted against the motion were all Catholics, and that the majority was largely composed of Protestants, among whom was the ex-High Sheriff of Cork, a Protestant, who not only voted for, but spoke in favour of the Motion?

*MR. J. MORLEY

I think hon. Members have answered the question on the Paper by their supplemental questions. It is a fact that the Cork City Council have decided, by a majority of 26 votes to 7, to defray out of the rates the expenses to which the hon. Member refers; and it is, furthermore, a fact that the Conservative and Protestant members of the Council, to the number of six, voted with the majority on the motion, the minority being exclusively Roman Catholics. As to the legality of the payment, that is entirely a matter for the Auditor of the Local Government Board, by whom it will eventually come to be reviewed. In the meantime, it is open to any ratepayer to take such action in the matter as he may be advised.

MR. W. REDMOND

May I ask if it is not a fact that the opposition to paving the expenses of the Mayor on this Mission arises not from religious feeling, but because the Mayor had thought fit to subscribe to a particular fund?

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

Are the Local Government Board prepared to intervene? As this vote was taken against the wishes of the Nationalist members of the Corporation, and as the citizens of Cork are strongly opposed to the proposal, will the right hon. Gentleman set in motion any measures for preventing this illegal expenditure?

*MR. J. MORLEY

So far as I know, it is not my business to interfere. I shall, however, have to take legal advice on the point.