HC Deb 27 February 1896 vol 37 c1212
MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) is he aware that a labourer named Owen M.'Manus, an evicted tenant of Lord Rathdonnell, has made several representations to the Monaghan Board of Guardians for the erection of a cottage under the Labourers' Act, which representations have all been signed by the number of ratepayers specified in the Act, but that the Guardians of the Monaghan Union have declined to entertain M'Manus's representation; and, (2) in these circumstances, will he take steps to secure the execution of the Act in the Monaghan Union?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds Central

The facts, I understand, are correctly stated in the first paragraph. When M'Manus originally applied for a cottage, he was in occupation of about five acres of land, and the Guardians were of opinion his case did not come within the provisions of the Labourers' Acts, and that there was not any want of accommodation for bonâ fide labourers in the locality. The man has renewed his application since his eviction in 1894, but the Guardians have declined to entertain it on the same grounds, and the Local Government Board do not consider the circumstances are such as to justify them in enforcing the compulsory provisions of the Act of 1891.