§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain on what grounds the Local Government Board of Ireland have refused to sanction a clause agreed upon by both sides in the Blackrock and Kingstown Main Drainage Bill, giving powers to consolidate the loans of the respective townships, and to have their repayments spread over a period of 60 years; and whether the Government will facilitate this arrangement in the interests of the ratepayers?
MR. J. MORLEYI am informed that the Local Government Board for Ireland have, in pursuance of the 52nd section of the Public Health Act, 1890, made regulations with reference to the issue and dealings with stock by Urban Sanitary Authorities. These regulations are similar to the regulations on the same subject made by the English Local Government Board, and provide, among other things, that in fixing the period within which loans shall be discharged, the Board shall have regard to the amount of the loans and the period allowed for paying them off by the statutory borrowing powers. The clause in question conflicted with these regulations on points of vital importance, and the Local Government Board could not, therefore, consent to its insertion in the Bill.
§ MR. FIELDAm I to understand there is no prospect of the Board agreeing to the clause under any circumstances?