§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that a number of treasurers of loan fund societies, working under the Charitable Act, 6 and 7 Vic. cap. 91, in the counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone, admitted before the Loan Fund Commission, which sat last year, that they received a gratuity of £5 each from the funds of their respective societies; (2) whether it was pointed out to the said treasurers by the Commission that the receipt by them of such gratuities was illegal; and (3) whether the money so illegally advanced has since been repaid by the treasurers concerned; and, if not, what steps will be taken to compel the refunding of all such moneys so illegally advanced?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts are as stated in the first two paragraphs. The amounts so advanced to treasurers have not been refunded, and the question as to the further steps to be taken in the matter is now under the consideration of the Loan Fund Board.