§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the names of the members of the Drainage Board or Boards in County Longford, and the method of election or appointment of these Boards; and whether, seeing that no statement of accounts is issued by them nor any official information given of the way in which the money levied for drainage is expended, and that most of the lands affected by drainage operations are now 1220 vested in the tenants who pay the charges without representation on the Board, he will introduce legislation to alter the composition and method of election of the existing bodies.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThere are nine Drainage Boards in the County Longford. The names of the trustees or members of each Board will be communicated to the hon. Member as soon as I receive the information. Seven of these Boards are constituted under the Act 5 & 6 Vict. cap. 89, which does not require the publication of a statement of accounts. The remaining two Boards are formed under the 26 & 27 Vict. cap. 88, which makes obligatory the publication of accounts. Tenants who purchase their holdings have a right to vote at the election of trustees or members of a Board. Tenants who do not purchase do not pay drainage rates. I cannot give any undertaking to introduce legislation as suggested.