§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) whether his attention has been called to a case of surcharge, recently made by the auditor against certain guardians of the Youghal (county Cork) Union, for the amount of relief granted to a widow named Eliza M'Namara, and to the correspondence which has passed between the Board of 73 Guardians and the Local Government Board on the subject; and, (2) whether, in view of the letter from the latter Board, dated 22nd May 1895, practically authorising such relief, he will recommend that this surcharge be remitted.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The letter of the Local Government Board dated 22nd May, 1895, only authorised the Guardians to give relief in this case on their obtaining a Report from the relieving officer that the woman was destitute. The auditor states he has seen no Report to this effect, on the contrary the relieving officer's statement to him at the audit shows that he did not consider her destitute. Under these circumstances, and as the woman was the owner of the house in which she resides, and which, if sold, would realise a substantial sum, the auditor disallowed the relief given to her, and the Local Government Board have no power to interfere with his discretion.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANasked whether the right hon. Gentleman thought a woman and three children could be supported in the workhouse on 5s. a week.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI should say that they could not not be supported for 5s. a week.