§ MR LIDDELL (Down, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the Lisburn Rural Council have raised the rent of labourers' cottages in the Hillsborough part of the Lisburn Rural District from Is. weekly to 2s. 6d., and have served notice to quit on all tenant labourers who have refused to pay this increased rent; if this course has been adopted to discourage further applications under the Labourers Acts, and if the Irish Local Government Board will intervene in the matter.
§ MR. BIRRELLAccording to the records of the Local Government Board, the Lisburn Rural District Council have resolved to raise the rents of labourers' cottages, but not to the extent stated in the Question. The council propose to raise rents of Is. 6d. a week to 2s. and rents of Is. 9d. to 2s. 6d. The Local Government Board have no information as to the reasons which may have influenced the council in adopting this course, but are about to communicate with the council on the subject.