§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that the Pembroke Township Commissioners last year levied an illegal rate upon the ratepayers of the township; can he state how much the illegal rate amounted to, and to what 451 purpose (if any) it has been applied; and, whether the Local Government Board have taken, or intend to take, any action in the matter?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI am informed that no question has been raised about the legality of the rate struck in the Pembroke Township in 1895, though that of 1894 was questioned and held to have been bad on a technical point. This latter rate amounted to £12,717 and was all collected at end of 1894, except a sum of £34 which has since been accounted for. The amount collected was wholly applied to sanitary and general purposes. The Local Government Board have no jurisdiction in the matter of the assessment or collection of municipal rates, and it is not competent for them to interfere: but I understand that the Township Commissioners have taken such steps as will, prevent the recurrence of the technical irregularity in the 1894 rate.