§ MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware of the amount of the loans borrowed and expended by the Guardians of Carrick-on-Shannon Union, under the Seed Supply (Ireland) Act, 1895; (2) whether he can state the amounts expended respectively under the Seed Supply (Ireland) Acts of 1880 and 1582 of 1891, stating the quantity of seed distributed in the years 1880–91, and 1895, also the amount allowed the clerk for his services during 1880 and 1891; (3) whether the clerk of the union was allowed a sum of over £50 out of the surplus of the loan for his duty in connection with the seed distribution at the weekly meeting held on 9th May last; (4) whether due notice of this meeting was given to such members; and (5) whether he can specify the duty performed by the clerk and his assistants?
MR. JOHN MORLEYIn reply to the first question, I have to say that the amount of the seed loan applied for this year in the Carrick-on-Shannon Union was £1,205, and the amount expended was £1,178. The answer to the second question is that the amount expended in the Union under the Act of 1880 was £7,222, and under the Act of 1891, £2,123. The quantity of seed distributed in 1880 was 500 tons; in 1891, 282 tons; and in 1895, 180 tons. The sum allowed to the clerk for his services under the Acts in 1880 was £75, and in 1891, £50. In reply to the third and fourth questions, I have to state that a sum of £50 has been voted to the Clerk for his services this year, but no notice of the intention to advance this sum was given, and the matter is to be reconsidered after notice. The answer to the fifth question is that the duties of the clerk and his assistants have been to carry out the instructions of the Local Government Board, to fill up the several forms, and to personally carry out the work of distribution for 13 days to more than 1,000 persons. The work to be done by the clerk in this matter is not yet at an end.