§ MR. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. Andrew Morrow, one of the poor rate collectors for the Lisburn Union, holds at the same time the position of secretary to the County Down Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; if so, whether he can say why Article 86 and Sub-section F of the General Orders of the Local Government Board for councils are allowed to be infringed; and whether he can say what steps will be taken to enforce the regulation.
MR. BRYCEI am informed that Mr. A. Morrow was an existing officer transferred to the Down County Council by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The attention of the Local Government Board was called to the fact that Mr. Morrow also held the office of secretary to the County Down Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and the Board stated that they did not consider it obligatory on Mr. Morrow to resign either of these offices. The Board have a dispensing power under the Public Bodies Orders, and in the case of existing officers they exercise this authority when the circumstances appear to justify that course.