HC Deb 28 February 1906 vol 152 cc1139-40
MR. LIDDELL (Down, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the county council of Sligo gave a contract for printing to Mr. P. A. McHugh on the ground that he had suffered for the Nationalist cause, although his tender was £429 above that of Mr. Kilgallon; that when Mr. Kilgallon, on its being proposed that his tender should be accepted, advanced to pay the necessary fee, one of the councillors seized him by the shoulders, snatched the money out of his hands, and threatened to throw him downstairs; and whether the Local Government Board will take steps to protect the ratepayers of Sligo from the imposition of unnecessary expenditure for political reasons.

MR. BRYCE

On August 26th, 1905, the Sligo County Council considered tenders for their printing contract for three years. Nine persons tendered, amongst them being Mrs. Kato McHugh at £399 a year, and Mr. T. Kialgallon at £250 a year. Before considering the tenders, the Council passed a resolution that the printing should be done in County Sligo; and the Council thereupon accepted Mrs. McHugh's tender on the ground that the only lower tender was that of Mr. Kilgallon, whoso plant was insufficient to carry out the contract satisfactorily. The Local Government Board have no information as to the alleged ill-treatment of Mr. Kilgallon at the meeting. The question of the legality of the payment will be considered by the auditor of the Local Government Board in due course.

MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid)

Is it the fact that the contract was given to Mr. McHugh because he had suffered in the Nationalist cause.

MR. BRYCE

I really have no information and I am surprised the hon. Member should think I could tell him what passes in committee of the Sligo County Council.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

Is it not the fact that Mr. Kilgallon is a bankrupt and therefore ineligible?

MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman obtain an answer to the question as to the reason for giving Mr. McHugh the contract?

MR. BRYCE

If it is wished that time should be occupied by questions of that sort I will obtain the information.