§ MR. CHAELES DEVLIN (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary the Question of which I have given him private notice—;namely, whether he has received copies of resolutions and other communications protesting against the action of the Local Government Board in refusing to sanction the action of the Galway County Council in appointing Mr. Michael Hobbs as rate collector; and whether he will say from whom such resolutions and communications were received; and will he state the reasons of the Local Government Board for refusing to sanction the appointment of Mr. Hobbs.
§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)At the same time may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is a fact that the county council of Galway quite recently elected to the position of rate collector for the district of Killimore, a gentleman named Mr. Michael Hobbs; whether Mr. Hobbs, up till a recent date, was a member of the county council and a magistrate of the county; and having regard to the minute passed by the county council at their meeting on April 26th, wherein they state that "no disqualification attaches to Mr. Hobbs," and asking the Local Government Board to sanction his appointment, whether he will ask the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision, with a view to carrying out the expressed wishes of the Galway County Council.
MR. BRYCEsaid he was very willing to answer the Questions. He would answer both together. Continuing, he said: I have received the resolution of the Galway County Council as well as
† See col. 738.1312 communications from other persons, the majority of whom are in favour of Mr. Hobbs. It is a fact that Mr. Hobbs was recently elected a rate collector and that he was, up to July of last year, a magistrate of the county Galway by reason of his being chairman of a rural district council. It was also a fact that the Galway County Council expressed the view that in their opinion no disqualification attached to Mr. Hobbs. The Local Government Board pointed out that Mr. Hobbs was actually disqualified by a general order made in 1899. The general order imposes certain disqualifications, and by that order Mr. Hobbs was disqualified and by that order the Local Government Board consider they are bound.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the case of Mr. William Lowrey, who was chairman of the Birr District Council, who was prosecuted for a speech delivered in August, 1902, was sentenced to five months hard labour entailing disqualification as chairman of the district council, was about three months after his liberation appointed to the position of clerk of the union which had become vacant, that the appointment was first disallowed by the Local Government Board but was immediately sanctioned by Mr. Wyndham, then Chief Secretary.
MR, JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)As I understand, this gentleman was appointed a rate collector, and it is said he was disqualified because he was convicted of taking part in an unlawful assembly. Is there any similar disqualification of this kind in the law of England, and as a matter1 of fact is not the President of the Local Government Board exactly in the same position, having been convicted of a precisely similar offence?
MR. BRYCEI have no information as to the latter part of the Question. I do not think my right hon. friend is under any disqualification as regards the law of England, but I cannot tell, I will make inquiry. I believe there is a disqualification as to members of county councils in Ireland.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDThat is not the question.
MR. BRYCELet me finish, please. There was a disqualification in this case. Whether there is such disqualification in the law of England I will inquire.
§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)Where are the equal laws?
§ MR. DUFFYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Hobbs was one of a batch of political offenders imprisoned by the late Government during their term of office—;whose sentences were remitted shortly after the present Government came into power, thereby showing that the Government did not regard Mr. Hobbs as a terrible criminal?
MR. BRYCEIt is perfectly true that the Lord-Lieutenant released Mr. Hobbs; that does not affect the question of the existence of this disqualification.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman withdraw it?
§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I can answer it: because he was convicted by a packed jury.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDMay I ask for a reply to the Question put by the hon. Member for East Mayo. Will the Local Government Board, of which the right hon Gentleman is President, withdraw the Order?
MR. BRYCEThe question of this Order will be considered and deserves to be considered. Of course I cannot be expected to answer a Question of that kind at once.
§ MR. DILLONI will put down the Question for this day week.
§ MR. HAZLETON (Galway, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say on whose advice the Local Government Board came 1314 to the decision not to sanction this appointment?