§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state under what circumstances Major Eccles, Local Government Auditor, surcharged Mr. Thomas Dolan, rent collector to the Belturbet Urban District Council, in the sum of £206 14s., and explain why Major Eccles made this surcharge without making any examination of the rent books since he was placed in charge of the district; and will he order an examination of the books by an independent person, seeing that the rental of the Urban Council stands in such order as satisfies the Council at present.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. WYNDHAM)I am informed that an application is about to be made to the King's Bench Division for a mandamus to set aside the Order made by the Local Government Board confirming this surcharge. I cannot, under the circumstances, discuss the action of the auditor or Local Government Board in the matter, at the present moment.