§ MR. G. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that the Labourers (Ireland) Acts have been almost wholly inoperative throughout the province of Ulster, owing to the refusal of Boards of Guardians to put them into operation; and (2) whether the Government will at an early date introduce legislation which will compel Boards of Guardians in Ulster to put the Acts into force?
§ * MR. GERALD BALFOURI am aware that comparatively few cottages have been erected in Ulster under the provisions of the Labourers Acts. With regard to the second paragraph, however, I would point out that under the Act of 1891 the Local Government Board are empowered to direct an Inquiry to be held by their Inspector into the refusal of a Board of Guardians to provide cottages, and, if satisfied, as the result of such Inquiry, that the Guardians have made default, the Board may authorise their Inspector to exercise all the powers of the Guardians under the Labourers Act. In pursuance of the provisions of this Act of 1891, the Local Government Board have authorised their Inspectors to exercise these powers in three unions in Ulster, arid in seven other unions in the same province Inquiries have been held with a view to ascertaining whether any necessity existed for providing cottages. I am not yet in a position to say whether further legislation on the subject is called for or not.
§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N. E.)asked who was to set the Local Government Board in motion in connection with the non-fulfilment of the Act.
§ * MR. GERALD BALFOURI believe the Local Government Board can be set in motion by 12 labourers resident in a locality, who petition the Board on the subject.