§ MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state on what grounds he cancelled the granting of 5s. a week out-door relief by the Pontefract Guardians to John Gilmore and Bridget Gilmore, who are at present domiciled in Mohill Union, Ireland.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)Will the hon. Member allow me to reply to this Question on behalf of the right hon. Gentleman. The relief in this case appears to have been ordered by the Guardians under a misapprehension of their powers. They had no legal authority to give relief to these persons whilst they were residing out of England. This my right hon. friend pointed out to the Guardians. He did not cancel their order. Indeed he sanctioned the payment up to the end of the June quarter; but he could not sanction the indefinite continuance of an expenditure which would be illegal.
§ MR. TULLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that Ponte-fract Union sent to Mohill Union, Ireland, seven years ago, a couple named John and Bridget Gilmore, allowing them 5s. a week out-door relief; and whether, as this relief has now been stopped by the Pontefract Union, the Local Government Board will consent to these parties being sent back by the Mohill Guardians to Pontefract.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe allowance was stopped by the Pontefract Guardians, 134 the English Local Government Board having advised that there was no legal authority for its payment. The Irish Department is not empowered to consent to the return of the parties to Pontefract, nor would the guardians of the Mohill Union be acting legally in expending the rates for this purpose.