§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to his statement that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to meet the necessity of providing means for recovery of outstanding debts in connection with Irish Loan Fund Societies, his attention had been called to the case of the Enniskillen Loan Fund Society v. Green, wherein it was proved that the defendant had actually paid £44 on a £10 loan which is still due; and whether it is the intention of the Government to pass special legislation for the purpose of facilitating the recovery of the original sums lent in the case of Green and of others, who have by the action of these societies been compelled to pay in interest the capital sum lent four times over?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDMy attention has been drawn to the case of Green, specially referred to in the Question, at the hearing of which, before the Justices, it was proved that the defendant had paid by way of renewal fines, and interest, on the original loan of £10, the sum of £44. With regard to the promised legislation, the Bill to be introduced will take into consideration abuses in reference to the renewal of loans, and the intention is to limit, as far as practicable, the claims of the Loan Fund Societies, in such cases, to what is equitably due.