§ MR. FLYNNOn behalf of the hon. Member for East Waterford (Mr. P. J. POWER), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with the view of encouraging agricultural labourers in Ireland to keep the cottages and land provided for them by Boards of Guardians in good order, will the Local Government Board consider the advisability of allowing boards of guardians, if they so wish, to spend a portion of the rates in giving small prizes for well kept gardens and cottages, the sum so spent not to exceed a small figure for each electoral division, and to be regulated by the Local Government Board?
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURThere is no statutory authority enabling Boards of Guardians to apply a portion of the rates for the purpose referred to, and it appears to me to be doubtful whether it would be desirable to conifer such power on them. Any such payments made by Boards of Guardians would be disallowed by the Auditor.