HC Deb 18 June 1896 vol 41 cc1320-2
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can yet say what kind of investigation, and by whom conducted, he proposes in respect of the Charitable Loan Fund system in Ireland, also its scope, and whether it will be public?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The question is somewhat premature, as I am not aware that I made any statement in public that I proposed holding an investigation. The whole matter is at present under consideration.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

subsequently said he should like to say a word upon a personal point. The right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary, in reference to Question 22, said it was premature and that he had not publicly said anything with regard to the suggested investigation. The emphasis the right hon. Gentleman put upon the word "publicly" was calculated to convey the impression that the question was founded upon information obtained in a private and, possibly, in a confidential manner, and he desired to offer his assurance to the right hon. Gentleman, that the question was grounded on words which he himself had used from his place in reply to a previous question, and not from anything which he (Mr. A. O'Connor) may or may not have heard in private.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

said that of course he entirely accepted the hon. Gentleman's assurance, and he might also tell him that he did not intend in reply to the question on the Paper to imply that it was founded on any private conversation.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the nature of the loans for which a loan fund can, under Section 28 of the Act of 1843, issue sums not exceeding £10 at a rate of interest not exceeding one penny halfpenny per month on each pound sterling; and in what respect, other than the rate of interest, such loans differ from loans advanced, under Section 27, at fourpence in the pound discount?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I shall be glad if the hon. and learned Gentleman will postpone till to-morrow this Question, as well as Question No. 49 which follows:—

[MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the rules of the Ballyshannon Loan Fund, a copy of which the right hon. Gentleman supplied to the Member for East Donegal, differ from those originally transmitted to and filed by the Clerk of the Peace, in accordance with the Act of 1842; and whether, and when, the alterations, increasing the salary of the clerk and other charges upon the fund, were also transmitted to and filed by the Clerk of the Peace: and, if not, will he explain who is responsible for the omission?]

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it was with his knowledge and sanction that the Secretary to the Loan Fund Board wrote from Dublin Castle on the 16th instant a letter to the Member for East Donegal, who had put to the right hon. Gentleman certain questions relating to the administration of the Loan Fund Board, in which letter the writer deprecated injudicious questions in Parliament, and suggests that communications on the subject should be addressed to his own Board?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No, Sir, it was neither with my knowledge nor sanction that the letter in question, was written.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

May I assume that the disclaimer of the right hon. Gentleman extends to a second letter from the same official received by me to-day, with an inclosure, in which occur the words:— I do not doubt but that reforms are necessary, as it is so long since the Loan Fund Act was passed, but, if the Loan Fund Board and the Government do not want to stand by and see the Loan Fund system and thousands of small depositors ruined, they will put a stop to those questions in Parliament which convey to borrowers the idea that they will no longer be obliged to meet their liabilities. Will he convey to this official the fact that it is himself and his Board that is challenged, and not subordinate officials of the department?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I have already intimated, in answer to a previous Question, that the whole subject is under consideration at the present time. The hon. Gentlemen will hardly expect me to give a direct answer to his Question.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to this official his sense of the impropriety of addressing letters of this kind to a Member of this House?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The whole matter is under consideration.