HC Deb 04 July 1904 vol 137 cc481-2
MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a meeting convened by the Board of Works, of proprietors of lands in Lough Leagh district, which was held in the county Antrim Courthouse, Belfast, on 24th June, for the purpose of appointing trustees, not exceeding fifteen in number; whether such meeting was fully advertised beforehand; whether he is aware that when a vote was taken it was found that the proprietors were outweighed by proxies; whether these proxies were obtained and used in a legal manner; and, if not, whether he will order a new election; whether, in view of the present system of administering the Trust by men who are not ratepayers and who do not reside in the flooded district, he will consider the advisability of transferring the powers and duties of the Trust to the local authorities of the several parts of the district comprising the flooded area.

MR. WYNDHAM

The meeting was convened by the Board of Works and advertised as prescribed by Section 120 of the Act 5 and 6 Vict., cap. 89. The secretary to the drainage trustees states that the proxies were in a majority. I have no reason to suppose that they were obtained or used in an illegal manner. The trustees are elected by the proprietors in the district, who are liable for payment of the rate for maintaining the drainage works. The law imposes no restriction upon the choice of trustees by the electors, and there appears to be no ground for interfering with that choice.

MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether this Trust is administered by those who are not ratepayers and who do not reside in the district?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. VICTOR CAVENDISH,) Derbyshire, W.

I understand the trustees are elected by the ratepayers.

MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN

Does the Chief Secretary intend to allow the administration of this Trust by men who have no authority or right to do so?

MR. WYNDHAM

The matter rests with my hon. friend the Secretary to the Treasury.