HC Deb 31 July 1905 vol 150 cc936-8
MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a representation under the Labourers Acts was made to the rural district council of Antrim by three men named Megarry for cottages in Crumlin district more than five years ago, that the rural district council decided that the cottages should be built, that building operations were only begun after four years delay, and that when the cottages were half built operations were suspended and no work done for some time past; and whether the Local Government Board will make inquiries as to the cause of the delay which has taken place in this case.

MR. WALTER LONG

There has been considerable delay in this matter, but the district council have now informed the Local Government Board that the cottages will shortly be completed.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how many schemes under the Labourers Acts the rural district council of Antrim have prepared; what were the dates of each scheme; and how many houses have been built under each scheme.

MR. WALTER LONG

Two schemes; one, dated June 12th, 1902, for twenty cottages, of which six have been completed, and four more are nearly finished; and the other, dated June 9th, 1904, for thirty-six cottages, of which none have been completed.

MR. KILBRIDE

How long were the Labourers Acts in force before county Antrim built any cottages at all?

[No Answer was returned.]

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will cause an inquiry to be held by the Local Government Board into the general working of the Labourers Acts in the rural district of Antrim, and particularly into the alleged difficulty of procuring tenders for the erection of cottages, and the delay which has occurred in so many cases between the lodgment of the repre- sentation and the completion of the cottages.

MR. WALTER LONG

The Board have already held a special inquiry into the general working of these Acts in county Antrin. The alleged difficulty in procuring tenders is not a matter on which the Board could take effective action. In the absence of reasonable tenders it would be open to the council to have the cottages built by direct labour under their own architect.