§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in what cases, and to what extent after the issue of the new Order, the qualification of a Poor Law Guardian in Ireland will be lower than a £12 rating?
MR. J. MORLEYThe value of the qualification for Poor Law Guardians in Ireland after the issue of the new Order will be under £12 in the following cases: (1) In 10 entire Unions, and in 61 Electoral Divisions, forming part of 14 Unions, it will be £10; (2) in two Divisions of Ballinrobe Union it will be £8; (3) in two Divisions of Ballinrobe Union and in nine of Westport Union it will be £6. The average rating qualification for Guardians throughout Ireland is at present something over £20, and in reducing the qualification to £12 for all Unions or Electoral Divisions in which the qualification now exceeds that amount the proposed reduction is at least a considerable experiment.
§ MR. SEXTONConsidering that the qualification all over England at present is £5, and that the House has practically adopted a Bill in which there is no qualification at all for a Poor Law Guardian in any part of England or Wales, I ask whether it is really finally determined that the minimum qualification in Ireland shall be £6, and higher, therefore, than the uniform qualification in England and Wales? Will the right hon. Gentleman point out to the Local Government Board that they should take care in apportioning these qualifications between 1333 the different Divisions that there shall be at least a substantial number of qualified persons in each Division, in order to give the electors something like freedom of choice?
Mb. J. MORLEYConsidering that in Ireland the occupier pays only half the rates, whereas in England he is supposed to pay the whole, I conceive that I have gone as far as I am justified in proceeding by way of experiment; and it is not my intention in connection with the present elections to alter the figures I have given. As to the other matter, it shall receive careful consideration.
§ MR. SEXTONHas the right hon. Gentleman considered that, although in Ireland the landlord pays half the rates, he has half the Board composed of ex officio Guardians?