§ MR. JOHN HAMMOND (Carlow)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Carlow Board of Guardians were compelled to pay to the Board of "Works, Ireland, a fine of £15 15s. because of the delay of 10 days in repayment of the first instalment of a loan under the Seed Potatoes Supply (Ireland) Act 1895; that this delay was caused solely by the absence of the clerk of the union on extended leave of absence owing to illness; and will he, having regard-to the circumstances of this case, order that this sum of £15 15s. shall be refunded to the Carlow Board of Guardians?
§ MR. HANBURYThe charge in question is not a fine, but a charge for collection (of 1s. in the pound) levied under Section G of the Public Works Loans Act 1892 in cases where the repayment is more than 31 days overdue. I have repeatedly explained that interest on these seed loans is payable not by the Guardians but by the Church Fund, so if the fees for collection were not enforced, there would be little inducement to the Guardians to repay the loans. In this case the instalment (£315) was due on 31st July 1896. The Guardians were informed on that date that the fees would become due if it was not paid within 31 days. They met every Thursday during that period, and the clerk was absent on only two of them. Even if he had been absent on each of the four Thursdays, there is no reason why such a pressing matter of ordinary business should not have been brought before the Guardians by a sub- 504 ordinate. I see no special reason for making any exception in this case.
§ In reply to further questions asked by Mr. HAMMOND and Mr. FLYNN,
§ MR. HANBURYsaid that the instalments became payable in the month of August, and that it was a statutory charge.