HC Deb 11 March 1902 vol 104 cc1020-1
THE MARQUESS OF HAMILTON (Londonderry)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the solicitors for the guardians of the poor of the Londonderry Union applied to the Local Government Board, requesting to be furnished with a copy of any memorial or other document received by the Board in regard to the inquiry on oath directed to be held into the proposal to transfer certain portions of the Londonderry Union to unions situated in the County of Donegal, and that the Local Government Board refused to furnish the same; and whether he will consider the advisability of this information being given, in view of the fact that the Poor Law Guardians intend, in the interest of the union which they represent, to oppose the proposed transfer; and whether, having regard to the amount of the sum which will be expended by the various bodies concerned in this inquiry, the Local Government Board will reconsider the matter whether a prima facie case has been made to justify an inquiry sufficient to satisfy the Local Government Act, Section 68, sub-section (3).

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

The documents were such as, in the opinion of the Board, established a prima facie case for inquiry, and were, when asked for, in the possession of the Inspector. In all such eases the decision of the Board is based upon the evidence taken at the in Inquiry, and not on anything in the Resolutions or applications asking for the inquiry. The usual course adopted, and which it is proposed to follow in this instance, is to open the Inquiry, hear all the evidence in favour of the proposal, and then adjourn for two or three weeks, to enable the opponents of the scheme to prepare their case. It would only involve the opponents of the scheme in unnecessary expense if they were to frame their case on what may turn out to be the irrelevant matters contained in the documents in question. The Board see no sufficient reason for reconsidering their decision to hold an inquiry.