§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) if he is aware that the relieving officer of Carrickmacross Union reported to the guardians of that union that a case, in which he represented the guardians under the Public Health Act, was dismissed by the magistrates at Petty Sessions, Carrickmacross, on 20th March 1896, on the ground that the guardians should be represented by a solicitor; (2) will he state who was the chairman on that occasion; and, (3) if no solicitor is needed in such cases, will he call the attention of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts appear to be as stated in the first paragraph. The Chairman on the occasion was Mr. Gibbings, a local magistrate. I understand that it is not necessary under the 257th Section of the Public Health Act that the guardians should be represented by a solicitor in such cases, but I am making further inquiries into the matter and have also asked to be informed whether the Relieving Officer had been authorised to represent the Guardians in the manner prescribed by the Section of the Act referred to.