§ MR. ENGLEDOWI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will give the names of the baronies in county Carlow in which arrears had been erroneously represented and the amount of these erroneous arrears which had been illegally collected, the names of the ratepayers from whom they were collected, and the amount in each case?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe baronies referred to are Idrone East, in which a sum of £2 6s. had been erroneously represented; Idrone West, £12 5s. 9d.; Rathvilly, £3 3s. 5d; and Forth, £40 10s. 11d. The auditor is not aware whether these sums were levied off individual cesspayers, or distributed over the entire valuation of the baronies, but he presumes the latter course was adopted, in which case the excess on the barony of Forth would only amount to about three-eighths of a penny in the pound on the valuation, while in the other baronies it would be scarcely appreciable.
§ MR. ENGLEDOWasked if the right hon. Gentleman would find out whether these sums paid by private people had been paid twice over?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo. Sir; I really cannot undertake to make these inquiries which the hon. Gentleman is constantly asking me to make.
§ MR. ENGLEDOWI would point out to the right hon. Gentleman——[Cries of "Order!"]
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member cannot comment on the answer given him.
§ MR. ENGLEDOWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in England the rates paid by farmers are being reduced, while in Ireland they have to pay them twice over, and the Government will not do anything in the matter?
§ [No answer was given.]