§ MR. EDWARD M'HUGH (Armagh, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the city of Belfast the Municipal Council collects the city rate, that the Belfast Water Commissioners collect the water rate, and the Poor Law Guardians the poor rate, each body having separate collectors in different offices charging poundage fees, and that each rate is collected annually in advance; and whether he will consider the advisability of embracing the collection of these several rates in one department by a clause to be inserted in the Local Government Bill, the collection to be made twice a year instead of once a year, as at present?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURUnder Clause 23 of the Bill, the poor rate will be collected in every urban district by 418 the Council of that district, and under clause 36, sub-sections 5 and 7, it will be made half-yearly. I have no information before me as to the water rate, this Question only having been put down yesterday.