§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rathdown Board of Guardians appointed and paid out of the rates an expert to advise the board as to the quality of samples of tea to be supplied to the board under contract; that the expert so employed reported that the sample of Messrs. Weir, of Bray, was first in quality, and that of Mr. Furlong was fourth in quality, and that the guardians notwithstanding gave the contract, in spite of their expert's opinion, to Mr. Furlong, on the grounds that the proprietors of Messrs. Weir's firm were Protestants and Unionists, and that Mr. Furlong was a Nationalist and Roman Catholic; whether the Local Government Board have sanctioned this action or will interfere to prevent such a choice; and whether the expenses of the expert will be surcharged.
MR. BRYCEI am informed that the facts are substantially as stated in the-first part of the Question. According to-the Minutes of the Guardians, the grounds, upon which they gave the contract to Mr. Furlong were that his tender was one of five at the same price, that the samples in all five cases were certified by the tea expert to be of good quality, and that Mr. Furlong had given satisfaction in regard to previous contracts. The-sanction of the Local Government Board has not been given, and is not required, in such matters. The expenditure of the guardians, both as to the contract and the expenses of the expert, will come before the Local Government Board's-auditor for investigation in due course.