HC Deb 04 February 1897 vol 45 cc1305-6
MR. VESEY KNOX (Londonderry)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether a consent order was on 7th December 1896, issued by the Local Government Board for the issue of stock by the Londonderry Corporation, without including among the sums to be raised £4,629 spent in obtaining the Londonderry Improvement Act, 1896; whether a new consent order was rendered necessary and was issued on 26th January 1897; whether he is aware that the loss to the Corporation owing to this delay, being the difference between the interest paid by the Corporation and the interest at which they will now be able to borrow, exceeds £120, in addition to the cost of the new order; and whether the Local Government Board will make up the loss due to their mistake?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. JOHN ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. The costs referred to were not included in the consent order of December 7th last, because the certificate of taxation was not signed until the 14th, and because they were not returned by the Corporation as an item to be covered by the proposed loan. It was not until the 29th of December that an application was made to the Local Government Board to issue an order to raise a loan for the amount of their costs. The only step taken by the Corporation in the matter after the 7th of December was the publication of advertisements calling a meeting of the Corporation to be held on the 29th January to create the stock. It was then considered better to issue a new order covering this sum of £4,629. The only costs incurred by the Corporation will be the costs of the fresh advertisement calling the meeting to create the stock, which can be held from 12 to 14 days after the 29th of January, the day originally named. The Corporation, and not the Local Government Board, are responsible for any delay which may have occurred, and any loss consequent thereon.

MR. KNOX

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether an Irish Corporation, issuing stock under the Order of 24th May 1892, is empowered to contract for the sale of stock before it has been created or a consent order has been granted?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND

Neither 30th Vict., cap. 29, Sec. 1, nor the provision of the regulation passed under the Health Act of 1890, prohibits such sale. The reply to the Question is, therefore, in the affirmative.