§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the urban council of Granard have recently passed a resolution calling for the repeal of such sections of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, as imposes on tenants rated at £4 and under the payment of rates; whether he is aware that this clause is largely inoperative owing to the poverty of many of these tenants, and leads to annoyance to them and to the collectors of such rates; and whether it is his intention to propose legislation reimposing such rates on the landlords who formerly paid them.
§ MR. WYNDHAMIt is not correct to say that the provisions of the Act in this respect are inoperative. The Act was based on the principle that the occupier should be rated, and the Agricultural Grant was fixed upon this understanding. The fundamental change suggested is neither practicable nor desirable.