§ MR. P. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to a discussion by the Wexford Board of Guardians concerning the appointment of County Councils in Ireland, during which a resolution was proposed by Charles H. Peacocke, Esq., J.P., and seconded by Lord Maurice Fitzgerald, both Conservatives, calling upon the Government to pass into law a County Councils Act on 1475 the same lines as that already passed for England and Wales; and, whether he can give any assurance that the Government will take up this question?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been drawn to a report of the proceedings at the meeting of the Wexford Board of Guardians at which a resolution was adopted in favour of the extension of Local Government to Ireland. The question is one which no doubt will engage the attention of the Government, but I am not at present in a position to give any pledge in the matter.