§ MR. LARDNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that on the 15th February last a representative deputation from urban districts in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Down, and Monaghan waited on the Local Government Board, and urged the assimilation of the law in Ireland as to the assessment and collection of poor rate and town rate in urban districts, and also the relief of tenants of houses in urban districts valued at under £5 from the payment of rates, and that the Vice-President of the Local Government Board informed the deputation that the matter would receive careful consideration; and if he will now state what action he proposes to take in this matter.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am aware that the deputation referred to waited on the Local Government Board. The question of introducing legislation with the object of facilitating the collection of rates and removing certain difficulties to which the deputation called attention, has received the consideration of the Government, but it has not been found possible to introduce a Bill this session.