§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a meeting of the Swinford Union Distress Committee on 16th April, 1907, at which allegations of theft were made against two members of the Swinford Board of Guardians; whether the relief works in Swinford have been suspended on account of the thefts, which have been exposed by the Paymaster; whether the Board has condoned or condemned these irregularities; and whether he has received or will call for a Report from the Local Government Board upon the case.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board have received from the Swinford Distress Committe a resolution in which the Committee make allegations of the nature indicated in the Question against two members of their own body. The Committee have called upon these members to resign, and have asked the Board to take action if they should fail to do so. The matter is under the consideration of the Board.