§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that at a meeting of the Belfast Corporation, held on 6th July, a charge of altering the terms of a resolution passed by the cemetery committee with reference to the allocation of ground for Catholic burials in Dundonald 1069 Cemetery was made by members of the corporation; and that the alteration referred to was intended to have the effect of depriving the Catholic authorities of Belfast of the right of authorising interments in that portion of the cemetery allotted to Catholics; will he say who was responsible for the altering of the resolution, and whether the proceedings at the meeting referred to were null and void; and whether, in view of the importance of the whole question to the Catholics of Belfast, he will order that a special inquiry with power to examine witnesses on oath be held with regard to it.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have seen a newspaper report of the proceedings of the corporation, which shows that a charge of the nature indicated was made. The Local Government Board have no power to intervene in regard to the charge referred to. The only matter for them to determine is the allotment of the burial ground amongst the various religious denominations.
§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)Has the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Belfast any authority over graves paid for by private individuals?
§ MR. WALTER LONGI do not see how that has any connection with the Question.