§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state the character and scope of the inquiry which he proposes with regard to the Charitable Loan Funds (Ireland); and when it will be commenced?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Loan Fund Board have agreed to the appointment of a committee, consisting of three members, to inquire into the administration and management of charitable loan funds in Ireland established in connection with the Act of 1843. The Loan Fund Board will be represented on the committee by one of their members, and the other two members will be Irish Civil Servants, whose services will be placed at the Board's disposal by the Lord Lieutenant. The terms of reference are very wide, and will include, inter alia, inquiry whether the rules of the local societies have been observed and attended to; whether the funds have been applied to the purposes for which they are intended; whether the business of any society is or has been transacted on licensed premises; as to the renewal of loans which are altogether or partly in arrear as to repayment; the multiplication of societies within limited areas; the expenses of management; the simultaneous indebtedness of the same person to two or more societies; the multiplication in the same person of the duties of the office of clerk to several societies, etc. It is expected that the Committee of Inquiry will enter on its duties about the 20th inst.
MR. T. M. HEALYasked whether this would be a public inquiry, whether the public would be admitted, and whether the gentlemen associated with Local Loan Fund Boards would be allowed to have legal representation.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThat, I think, would be a question for the 850 Committee to decide; but I do not think there would be any objection to the proposal that the Inquiry should be public.