§ MR. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he will state why the hon. Member for North Kildare was not re-appointed this year as one of the governors of the county Carlow Asylum, which is the asylum for the counties of Carlow and Kildare: Whether he is aware that he has been for some years one of the governors of this institution, and that he was one of the most regular attendants at the meetings of the board of governors; 761 and, whether, considering that he is one of the largest cess-payers in the county of Carlow, and is one of the Members of Parliament for the county of Kildare, he will consider the desirability of re-appointing him?
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked whether it was not a fact that the Member for South Belfast had not been re-appointed this year one of the governors of the Co. Down Asylum from which he was dismissed by the late Chief Secretary for Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe answer to the hon. Member for South Belfast is in the affirmative. Under a rule which has existed for some years, it is not the practice to select a Member of Parliament to be a representative of the Lord Lieutenant on a District Lunatic Asylum Board. His attendance in London in connection with his Parliamentary duties would, of necessity, interfere with his attendance at the Asylum Board meetings.
§ MR. KILBRIDEasked the right hon. gentleman whether it was not the fact that a vacancy at present existed, and how it was intended to fill it up.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI must ask for notice of that Question.