§ MR. P. C. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the tenant farmers of the Lough Erne drainage district, have no representation on the local board of management; and in view of the fact that they pay such a large proportion of the drainage and maintenance rates, whether he will take steps to have this anomaly remedied?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Lough Erne Drainage District having been formed before the Drainage Act of 1892, the tenants have no representation on the Drainage Board. The whole charge both of interest and sinking fund on the capital account, and also of maintenance is borne by the landowners. It is, therefore, incorrect to say that a large proportion of the drainage and maintenance rates is borne by tenant farmers. This is only true of tenant farmers who have purchased their holdings, and are, therefore, in the position of owners.