§ MR. HEMPHILL (Tyrone, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a letter of Mr. John McGlinchy, dated March 6th, instant, sending to the Local Government Board a petition signed by 220 ratepayers in the Castlederg and Killeter No. 2 Dispensary District of Castlederg Union, North Tyrone, relative to the place of residence of the medical officer, and complaining that his residence is on the bounds of the district, which imposed on many of the destitute poor when requiring medical aid the necessity of travelling up to twelve miles in all weathers for the purpose of obtaining it; and, if so, will he take the necessary steps to obviate this, and insure that the medical officer may take up his abode in a central position in his district which will be reasonably accessible to all the poor inhabitants who are entitled to medical aid.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe petition did not allege that any hardship to the sick poor had resulted from the position of the medical officer's residence. The officer in question has complied with the terms of his appointment by residing within his district, and the Board see no 1536 reason for interfering in the matter, upon the facts at present before them.