§ MR. YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the majority of the Guardians of Cootehill Union have persistently refused to make a scheme for providing suitable dwellings and allotments under the Labourers Acts; whether several labourers have frequently asked the Local Government Board for an inquiry under the provisions of the amended Act; is the Local Government Board aware that three-fifths of the elected Guardians are in favour of making a scheme; and whether the Local Government Board, after the proceeding of the Guardians on 23rd February, will order an inquiry forthwith?
MR. J. MORLEYI have been informed that the Guardians of this Union have up to the present time declined to act on representations made to them under the Labourers Acts. Complaints from individual labourers have occasionally been received by the Local Government Board, but it was only during this month that application was made for an inquiry under the provisions of Section 873 5 of the amended Act. The Board is not aware that three-fifths of the elected Guardians are in favour of making' a scheme, but a proposal for such a scheme was defeated at a meeting of the Guardians by 13 votes to 11. The question of holding an inquiry in the district will, on the receipt by the Local Government Board of certain documents which they require to be furnished with by the Guardians, be considered.
§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)Is it not the case that in the Cootehill Union, as well as in the Bailyborough Union, there are a large number of non-elected ex officio Guardians who are opposed to the administration of these Acts; and will he, taking the serious reports as to the condition of labourers' dwellings in these Unions into consideration, endeavour to increase the number of popularly-elected Guardians?