HC Deb 15 March 1898 vol 54 cc1658-9
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Town Commissioners of Ennis, in which they direct the attention of the Chief Secretary to the fact that the control and management of the tolls, customs, fairs, and markets of the town of Ennis are in the hands of an individual, and express their opinion that the passage of the present Local Government Bill through Parliament will be an opportune time to confer compulsory powers of purchase of such tolls, customs, and markets on the new urban local boards on an equitable basis of fair value; the purchase money to be provided by the Government at a moderate rate of interest; and whether the Government will consider the desirability of meeting the views of the Ennis Commissioners in this matter?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

I have seen the resolution in question. I am afraid I could not undertake to deal with the matters referred to in the Local Government Bill.