§ MR. W. REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether some arrangement can be made by which the Clare portion of the Limerick Union may be protected from a largely increased rate under the new condition of affairs under the Local Government (Ireland) Bill?
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. GERALD BALFOUR)Apart from the agricultural grant the rates, under the system of union rating, will necessarily be raised upon the Clare portion of the union, but having regard to the sum the union will receive from the grant the present rates in this portion of the union will not, it is believed, be increased as a result of the new condition of affairs.
§ MR. W. REDMONDBut, in view of the fact of the poverty of this portion of the union, cannot a special exemption be made in its favour?
§ MR. ATKINSONreplied in the negative, but repeated that it was not anticipated that the rates would be increased.