§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Lismore Board of Guardians have by resolution requested the Local Government Board for Ireland, in view of the efforts now being made for the promotion of Irish industries and manufactures, to authorise them to entertain only tenders received from bonâ fide Irish manufacturing firms for medicines and medical and surgical appliances; and, if so, whether the Local Government Board will give the Lismore Guardians and any other public bodies desiring to follow the same principle this discretion in the case of all articles manufactured in Ireland by a number of firms sufficient to ensure adequate competition; and whether he will make inquiries of the President of the Local Government Board for England to ascertain whether this principle is adopted by a considerable number of boards of guardians in England.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe duty of the board of guardians in the exercise of their public trust is to have due regard to economy and to obtain the best return possible for the money of the ratepayers whom they represent. The Local Government Board have no power to enlarge or curtail the responsibility of the guardians in this respect. The English Local Government Board have no knowledge that the method suggested in the Question is adopted in this country.