§ MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that a labourer's cottage was erected under the Labourers Acts in the division of Lower Kilmore, in the Longford Union, on a representation sent in by Robert Wilders, he will state the loss to the rates and the legal expenses incurred by the Longford District Council in evicting this man from this cottage, and if the auditor has surcharged any of these losses; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing in the Irish Land Bill an amendment to prevent rural district councils evicting labourers living in cottages erected at the expense of the ratepayers in similar circumstances.
1245 (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Wilders does not appear to have been in occupation of the cottage. It was built in pursuance of a representation lodged on his behalf, but the council, instead of letting the cottage to Wilders, gave it to a man named Nertney. The latter gave up possession in January last, having paid no rent, and the cottage has since been let to Dominick Reilly. The arrears of rent due by Nertney amount to £3 2s. 8d., and the attention of the auditor has been drawn to the entire matter.