§ *MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will take steps to extend the powers of the rural district councils in Ireland that will confer on them the right already enjoyed by urban councils to erect artizans dwellings for tradesmen in towns which have not 248 been urbanised under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, so as to enable these rural councils to provide for the better housing of the tradesmen in such towns.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe rural district councils have extensive powers for providing house accommodation under the Labourers Acts. As at present advised, I am not prepared to extend those powers by applying the Housing of the Working Classes Acts to rural districts.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to break down the monopoly?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI do not admit that there is a monopoly. The time has not come to apply to urban districts the powers now exercised in rural districts.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the question?
§ MR. WYNDHAMMy reply was based on my consideration of it.