§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that the Hills- 1146 borough District Council, county Antrim, have recently served notices to quit on certain labourers who refused to sign a new agreement for an increase of 25 per cent. of rent on their cottages; and whether, in view of the fact that the council refuse to hear a deputation of these labourers who waited upon them to state their case, and the fact that they are being evicted from their cottages, he can say what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have been in communication with the Hillsborough Rural District Council in reference to this matter, and, as a result, the council have appointed a committee to draft regulations under Section 29 of The Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, and have resolved that, in the meantime, the notices to quit referred to in the Question shall be allowed to lapse, and that no further action shall be taken in the matter until regulations have been adopted by the council and confirmed by the Local Government Board.