§ MR. W. REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the officer who held a sworn inquiry at Dunshaughlin Union into the alleged illegal voting of George Murphy, J.P., and John Wilkinson, J.P., upon a contract in which they 1758 were financially interested, has reported to the Local Government Board; and whether the facts alleged were proved; and, if so, what action the Local Government Board intend to take in the matter?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Report of the Inspector who conducted the inquiry referred to has been submitted to the Local Government Board, and it is clear from this Report that the ratepayers of the Union will gain by the acceptance of the tender of the Dunsany Company for the Union meat supply, and that nothing was adduced at the investigation to slow that the Guardians who hold shares in the Company do so from any other motive than to keep down the prices of articles consumed in the district. The gentlemen named in the question are shareholders to the amount of £5 and 10s. respectively; and, assuming that the Company paid a dividend of 10 per cent., which has never yet been exceeded, the yearly interest due to Mr. Murphy would be 10s., and to Mr. Wilkinson 1s. It further appears that the Company has been in the habit of declaring a bonus to its customers. The last bonus declared was at the rate of 1s. 6d. in the £1 on the amount purchased by each buyer; and it is evident, therefore, that the ratepayers will gain by the acceptance of the tender. Under all the circumstances, the Local Government Board are of opinion that the present is not a case in which they should initiate proceedings for the statutory penalties, but that it should be left to the trader whose tender was rejected, or to any other ratepayer, to do so.