§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that copies of rate books at present supplied to clerks of unions do not contain the names of lessees and owners, which are essential for the purpose of making out Labourers Act Schedules; and whether as under this system professional men, auctioneers, and other persons have no means of obtaining information required for their business unless at the county offices, and in view of the inconvenience caused to officials and to the general public by the withdrawal of the valuation lists from the offices of the clerks of unions, he would advise the Local Government Board to restore the practice that existed previous to the Local Government Act, 1898.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe new rate books contain only the names of occupiers or of lessees and owners who are liable for rates under Section 52 (1) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, and the Local Government Board do not consider that these books should be burdened with additional information which has no connection with the rate, and is merely required in order to enable schedules for the Labourers Acts to be prepared without reference to the valuation lists in the county council offices, and to facilitate "professional men and auctioneers" in their private business—as suggested in the question.