HC Deb 13 March 1902 vol 104 cc1278-9
CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork Co., E.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Wexford, I beg to ask the Chief alleged to have infringed the 1893 Welsbach British patent since the 1st day of January, 1901. (2) Of all application made to the Judges of the King's Bench sitting in Chambers for committal to prison on the plea of contempt of persons alleged to have infringed Welsbach British patents (c) since 1890, and (d) since the 1st day of January, 1891, respectively, and of all orders made thereon, and names of persons arrested and committed. (3) The numbers respectively of manufacturers of incandescent mantles, and of dealers in, or sellers or users of such mantles, who have been served with writs, prosecuted, or committed to prison on the plea of contempt in connection with alleged infringement of the Welsbach British patents (e) since 1890, and (f) since the 1st day of January, 1901."—(Mr. Weir.) Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the grounds upon which the Local Government Board for Ireland hold that Article 27 of the Procedure of Councils Order, as amended by the Procedure of Councils Order of 1901, can only apply to new contracts; can he explain why the Local Government Board consider as new contracts only those entered into after 1st April, 1902; is he aware that a number of existing contracts originally made by Irish grand juries were made on the principle of half-yearly payments; and can he state why in these contracts the half-yearly system of payments should not be reverted to; and will he take steps to remove any difficulties standing in the way of the relief to the ratepayers proposed by the amending Act of last session in the Bill he proposes to pass this session. May I take the opportunity of congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his return to the House?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)

Thank you. Article 26 of the Order of 1899, as amended by the Order of 1901, reads as follows:— Contracts may provide for payments to a contractor—where the contract is for a work of maintenance, and for a term of years at any period not exceeding six months for work executed during that period. It is, therefore, clear that the half-yearly payments must be provided for in the contract; and no such contract can legally be entered into prior to the 1st April next. There is no provision in the Order of 1901 enabling a County Council to vary the terms of an existing contract. Payments under maintenance contracts entered into by grand juries were made after March and July Assizes at periods of eight and four months respectively, and not at intervals of six months. I cannot undertake to introduce, in the Bill referred to, a clause such as suggested.