§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is 873 aware that great distress prevails in Rosscarbery, County Cork; and, if so, whether the Government will make a grant in order to carry out the Rosscarbery and Clonakilty Railway, so that employment may be given and a useful public work carried out? On the same subject I will also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the following resolution passed the other day by the Clonakilty Board of Guardians, calling on the Government to take immediate action and open up some reproductive works in the Rosscarbery District, as, owing to the almost complete failure of the potato crop last year and the closing of the Benduff quarries, the people are in extreme poverty verging on starvation; and whether, in view of the very serious distress in Rosscarbery District, the Government will consider the necessity for taking some steps to protect the people?
MR. J. MORLEYIn reply to these questions I have to say that I am informed by the Local Government Board that their Inspector, having made careful inquiry into the condition of the Rosscarbery District, is of opinion that there is no exceptional distress at present in this locality. The Inspector also states that the amount expended in out-door relief in the district during the past week-was considerably less than that expended in the corresponding week last year. It is true that some of the men thrown out of employment by the closing of the Benduff quarries are still unemployed, but the Inspector reports that there is a demand for labour in other parts of the union. With regard to the question of a railway between Rossearbery and Clonakilty, I have no doubt that such a work would be of great benefit to the district. I regret, however, there are no funds available out of which to undertake the line.
§ MR. W. REDMONDHow does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the Report of the Inspector with the unanimous Resolution of the Board of Guardians calling on the Government to do something to meet the existing exceptional distress?
MR. J. MORLEYThere is evidently a difference of opinion; but the Inspector has made a very full Report, and I accept what he says.
§ MR. W. REDMONDIs the right 874 hon. Gentleman in a position to say from whom the Inspector obtained his information, and upon what he bases his statement that there is no exceptional distress?
§ MR. W. REDMONDWith reference to the last question as to the Bodyke seizures, will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last paragraph, which, no doubt, he overlooked?
§ THE SPEAKEROrder, order! I do not think we can go back.