§ MR. SHEEHAN. (Cork County, Mid)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that certain difficulties have arisen in the Kilmallock rural district, and that disappointment has been caused to deserving labourers in connection with the administration of the Labourers Act of last year; is it alleged on behalf of the labourers that the financial resources of the district council are not being employed to their full extent for the provision of cottages and allotments, together with the additional half acre for cottages already built; has he received a resolution from Mr. John Hogan, honorary secretary, East Limerick Committee of the Land and Labour Association, requesting that he should receive a deputation representative of the labourers' organisation to discuss the defects in the Labourers' Acts in their particular relation to the Kilmallock rural districts; will he state what action he intends to take in the matter; and whether he proposes to receive the deputation referred to.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have received some complaints as to the rejection by the rural district council of representations made by labourers, and have informed the persons who complained that it is open to them to attend the local inquiry 235 and lay their case before the inspector. No complaints, however, have been made to the Board that any difficulties have arisen in the administration of the Act of last year, or that the financial resources of the district council are not being employed to their full extent. I received a letter from the local Irish Land and Labour Association, and replied that, before considering whether I could usefully receive a deputation, I should wish to be furnished with a written statement giving full particulars of the alleged defects to which they desire to call my attention. I have to-day received a statement on the subject, but have not yet had time to consider it.