§ MR. DILLONOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the case of the Ballinamallard (County Fermanagh) Loan Fund Society against James M'Gee and others under the Loan Fund Act (6 and 7 Vict., c. 91), heard at last Irvinestown Petty Sessions, where Mr. Jones, Resident Magistrate, calculated that the borrower (M'Gee) had paid in interest and fines £7 odd on a £3 loan that had been out for 10 years; and, whether any steps will be taken to protect borrowers like M'Gee from the excessive charges of these Loan Societies constituted under the Charitable Act aforesaid?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have received through the Loan Fund Board a Report from the Clerk to the Society mentioned in this Question, but the Report is so incomplete that I have called for further particulars before I can answer the Question.
§ MR. DILLONOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. MACNEILL), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that William Creighton, a member of the committee of the Ballinamallard (County Fermanagh) Loan Fund Society, attends the office during working hours, and on his own behalf, and independent of the Society, lends money to borrowers; and (2) whether, as this was proved in evidence and admitted by Creighton before Mr. Jones, R. M., and the Justices at Irvinestown Petty Sessions on Friday last, 5th instant, such conduct is sanctioned by G and 7 Vict., c. 91, which is a charitable Act?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that the statements in the first paragraph as to the course pursued by Mr. Creighton are correct. I am not aware of any provision in the Act which forbids such action, but it is certainly 278 most undesirable that it should be allowed to continue.
§ MR. DILLONOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. MACNEILL), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in order to convert renewals into new loans, it is the custom at the Ballyshannon Loan Fund Society (County Donegal), to have a member of the committee stationed at the door of the office, or adjacent thereto, who hands the amount to the borrower as he enters and takes it back again as he emerges from the office with the proceeds of the new loan; and whether, as this practice on the part of the Society is an evasion of the Act (6 and 7 Vict., cap. 91), the Government are prepared to take any steps in the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Loan Fund Board are informed by the clerk of the Ballyshannon Society that there is no foundation for the allegation contained in this Question.
§ MR. DILLONOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. MACNEILL), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been directed to the large number of summonses issued under the Loan Fund Act (6 and 7 Vict., cap. 91) and entered for hearing at last Petty Sessions Courts at Ballyshannon (County Donegal), Kesh (County Fermanagh), and Irvinestown (County Fermanagh); and (2) whether any and what steps will be taken to prevent local Petty Sessions Courts from being inundated with loan fund summonses pending the Report of the Commission recently appointed to inquire into the Loan Fund Societies in Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that a considerable number of summonses under the Loan Fund Act have been entered for hearing at the Petty Sessions mentioned in the Question. As to the second paragraph, the Loan Fund Board are anxiously considering the result of the recent inquiry, and, as a matter of fact, a meeting of the body is being held to-day for the purpose of considering the Report. The Government has no power to interfere with the issue of summonses as suggested at the end of the Question.