§ MR. MEAGHERTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the burden placed on the ratepayers of a number of unions in Ireland by the inability of weekly tenants of cottages to pay the rates levied on them; and whether, 600 seeing that the rates on those cottages prior to the operation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act of 1898 were borne by the landlords, he will see his way to have that Act amended in order to revert to the old system, and so prevent the other ratepayers from having to meet increased taxation.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.)—I beg to refer to the replies which I gave to similar Questions on April 4th and May 16th,† when I stated fully the reasons why the Government are not prepared to introduce legislation on this subject.