§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to allegations of corruption in the administration of the Rathkeale Union; whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the Board of Guardians of Rathkeale a motion asking the Local Government Board (Ireland) to dissolve the present board and to appoint paid guardians, in order to put a stop to the alleged corruption, was only lost by two votes, thirteen voting for and fifteen against; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. BIRRELLMy attention has been called to this matter. the Local Government Board can only dissolve a board of guardians and appoint paid officers when the guardians have been guilty of default in the discharge of their duties under the Poor Law Acts. In the case in question the guardians were acting in their capacity as rural district councillors, and the alleged irregularities occurred in connection with the administration of the Labourers Acts and not of the Poor Law Acts.