§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury 1203 have refused to sanction a loan of £100 to the Swinford Board of Guardians for the enlargement of the Kilkenure graveyard; whether the application for the loan was strongly recommended by the Irish Local Government Board; and, if the Lords Commissioners have refused, would he state on what grounds their refusal was based?
§ MR. HANBURYThe guardians last year applied for a loan of £233. They already owed arrears of over £5,600. The Local Government Board, notwithstanding, recommended the additional loan in consequence of having received a resolution of the guardians undertaking to pay off the outstanding arrears as soon as possible; and they reported that in any average year the guardians could, they had little doubt, collect a rate of 4s., or about 1s. 2d. more than they were actually raising. A rate of even 1–13d. would meet the interest and sinking fund of the £233. The guardians, however, made no offer to raise the rate by even that amount. Last month the guardians reduced the proposed loan from £233 to £100, and if they make any reasonable effort to discharge their obligations, or even to provide for those of the proposed new loan, it will be granted.
§ MR. DILLONThen do I understand that the Swinford Guardians are not considered good for a loan of £100?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, they would take no steps to raise the rate.
§ MR. DILLONIs the right honourable Gentleman aware that this is the most distressed union in the whole of Ireland?
§ MR. HANBURYThat may be, but they could raise the rate one-thirtieth of a penny to produce the sum necessary for a loan of £100.