§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether Irish grand juries are legally bound to advertise for tenders for the various contracts for the departments of the public service which they control, and which are paid for out of the public funds; whether he is aware that the grand jury of the county of Kilkenny recently gave a printing contract for a term of seven years without having invited tenders by advertisement in the local press, and at a cost of several hundred pounds to the rates more than the 671 work would be done for if left open to competition; and, whether he proposes to take any and what action in the matter?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR), asked that the Question should be postponed until Monday next.