§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Carrickmacross board of guardians have been charged 25s. 3d. for spraying machines; and whether, in view of the fact that he recently directed the Local Government Board for Ireland to charge less than 20s. for spraying machines to Irish boards of guardians, he 946 will now direct the Local Government Board for Ireland to charge not more than 20s. each for the 52 spraying machines they have incurred?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Carrickmacross guardians ordered a number of spraying machines, described as the "Eclair," at 28s. each. The retail price of these machines is 35s. a piece, but under the arrangements made between the Local Government Board and the manufacturers the guardians were enabled to obtain them at 28s., and may sell them to cash purchasers at a further reduction of 10 per cent. The machine known as the "Strawsometer" is quoted by the manufacturers at 21s. 6d. when delivered in quantities of 500 and upwards, and these machines may likewise, be sold for cash at a further reduction of 10 per cent. The guardians had before them the quotations of the various machines, and decided to take the higher-priced machine mentioned. The statement that I recently directed the Local Government Board to charge less than 20s. for spraying machines to boards of guardians is not correct.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The honourable Member is not entitled to put such a question.