§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what the financial condition of the Tralee Union was when the Vice Guardians took charge of it, and in what condition they left it; also, the date of their appointment, and the date upon which their term of office expired; and whether, at 759 the last meeting of the Board of Guardians, the manager of the National Bank reported that the account had again been overdrawn, and requested payment of interest on overdrafts amounting to £446?
MR. J. MORLEYWhen the Vice Guardians were appointed in this Union the liabilities of the Union amounted to about £4,800. The clerk of the Union informs the Local Government Board that on the 25th of March last, when the Vice Guardians' term of office expired, the liabilities of the Union were about £2,000, to meet which there was a balance in treasurer's hands of £1,166. There were also poor rates outstanding and collectible to the amount of £357, and about £1,000 worth of seed rate which the Vice Guardians had advanced out of the poor rates to pay off the seed loan to the Commissioners of Public Works. It is not, however, possible to state how much of this latter sum can be recovered by the Guardians so as to refund the poor rates. The Vice Guardians struck a new rate before ceasing to hold office. The Vice Guardians were appointed on the 23rd of June, 1892, and their statutory term of office expired at the general election of Guardians in March last. At the meeting of the Guardians on 2nd instant the treasurer called their attention to the fact that their account with the bank was overdrawn to the extent of £402, and that a sum of £466 was due for interest on overdrafts. The overdraft by the Guardians appears to have been caused by their making large payments to contractors and others immediately after they came into office, and the collectors did not lodge sufficient rates to maintain a credit balance at the bank. The Guardians have now called on these officers to press forward their collections, so as to discharge the debt to the treasurer and maintain a balance in favour of the Guardians in his hands.
§ SIR T. ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)asked if, in addition to an overdraft of £1,000, there was not a sum of £260 for interest left unpaid?