§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inspector of the Local Government Board, in reference to the recent inquiry under the Labourers Acts in Thurles rural district, recommended only thirty-five cottages out of ninety-three applied for; and that, in twenty-seven cases, he rejected the applications because the applicants did not appear, though there was other evidence given in support of them, and 963 in the majority of the twenty-seven cases there was no evidence in opposition; whether there is any obligation on applicants requiring their personal attendance at such an inquiry, and whether the Local Government Board will request the inspector to reconsider these cases.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe evidence was not considered sufficient in the twenty-seven cases referred to. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative. The cases may be brought forward again by the district council as a separate scheme. To reopen the inquiry now would delay the issue of the Provisional Order in respect of the thirty-five cottages sanctioned.