§ MR. O'MALLEYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why Poor Law officers of Ireland are placed under different regulations by the Local Government Board at the present time than what obtained prior to the passing of the Local Government Act of 1898; and whether, in view of the fact that the Local Government Board have in their published Reports paid tribute to the efficiency of the administration of the Local Government Acts by the local bodies of Ireland, he will see his way to 556 recommend the withdrawal of the late Orders of the Local Government Board, so far as concerns these bodies which have protested against them.
(Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The general regulations under which union officers now serve are the same as those in force prior to the passing of the Act of 1898. The fundamental changes introduced by that Act necessitated an entirely different code of instructions in respect to financial administration, for example, union rating has been substituted for electoral-division rating and the guardians no longer collect their own rates, but are financed by county councils. It has already been stated that it is not proposed to withdraw the Orders recently issued.