§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the statement made from the bench by the chief magistrate of the city of Dublin as to the character of the Board of Works, which was not refuted by the Board, will he ask the Board of Works why this matter was allowed to pass unnoticed, having regard to their minute dealing with the article in the Freeman's Journal of the 16th November last, relative to their in competency and the bigotry of Mr. Williams.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThe Board of Works inform me that they have no knowledge of the statement alleged to have been made by the chief magistrate of the city of Dublin as to the character of the Board of Works. In any case it is not the custom of Government Departments to reply to attacks made on them by outside bodies, or individuals, but it is within their discretion to take such steps as may appear necessary to maintain the discipline of their Department.