MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any complaints have been made to the Local Government Board that contractors to the County Council of Kerry and District Council of Cahirciveen were members of these Boards; whether contractors are disqualified by the Local Government Act of 1898 from being members of the councils to which they are contractors; whether there is a difference in the law in case of a real and nominal contractor; and, what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board to practically prevent real or nominal contractors from being members of the new Local Government bodies.
§ *THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRLAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR, Leed Central)The reply to the first and second paragraphs is in the affirmative. Article 12 of the Application of Enactments Order of 22nd December, 1898, provides that a person shall not be qualified to be elected, or to sit, as member of a county or district council who is concerned by himself or his partner in any bargain or contract entered into with the council, or participates by himself or his partner in any such contract. A person acting in contravention of the provisions of this enactment is liable to a penalty not exceeding £20 for each occasion on which he acts, and it is further provided by Section 94 of the Act of last year that a person who incurs such a penalty shall for seven years be disqualified for being elected a member of any council. Save as to any question which may arise on the audit of the accounts, the Local Government Board have no jurisdiction in the matter. It is the duty of the parties interested, not of the Local Government Board, to institute proceedings for breach of the provisions. of Article 12 of the Order referred to.