§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)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, who held the recent inquiry under the Labourers' Acts for the Kilmacthomas rural district, gave as his reason for the rejection of the application of James Flynn for a house and plot that Flynn was a returned American with money, and that he doubted his being an agricultural labourer; is he aware that James Flynn gave evidence at the inquiry that he has been an agricultural labourer since his return from America, though he brought a little money home; and, seeing that this was uncontradicted, can he explain why this application has been rejected.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe application was not for a house and plot, but for an additional half - acre; otherwise the reasons given, by the inspector for rejecting the application are correct. Flynn's evidence was vague and contradictory.
§ MR. POWERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Maurice Walsh was an applicant for an additional half-acre at the recent inquiry under the Labourers' Acts for Kilmacthomas Rural District, and that the occupier was willing to give the land on condition that the applicant should surrender a certain outhouse he has occupied for a number of years and claims as his property. Can he explain why the inspector declined to recommend the application, and, will the Local Government Board decide on the application irrespective of the dispute between the occupier and the applicant?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIn addition to the question of title involved, it appears that Walsh has not tilled for three years the half-acre plot already allotted to him. The Provisional Order having been issued, the case cannot now be re-opened.
§ MR. O'SHEEWas there any reasonable ground for the refusal?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, I should think the failure to till for three years the plot he already held constituted a reasonable ground.