HC Deb 19 February 1908 vol 184 cc827-8
MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that, at a meeting of the Waterford Board of Guardians held on 13th December last, the chairman proposed that, in consequence of Mr. Scully, who had been employed for many years as consulting engineer to the Board, having given evidence as to the amount of the damage done to Lord Ashtown's house at Glenaheiry by the bomb explosion, they should dispense with his services and employ another engineer; whether this course was agreed to by the Board with two dissentients; and what steps the Local Government Board took or intend to take in the matter.

MR. CHERRY

The Local Government Board are informed by the Clerk of the Waterford Union that in the discussion on 13th of November the Chairman may have suggested that Mr. Scully's services should be dispensed with, but the only motion on the subject put to the Board of Guardians was that Mr. Scully should be asked to send in his account for the amount then duo to him, which motion was passed by eight votes to two. The Clerk adds that Mr. Scully is still in the guardians' service. The Local Government Board have taken no action in the matter, which appears to be one within the discretion of the guardians.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

Is it not the fact that Mr. Scully is in the employment of the guardians only in respect of work which was current at the time of the proceedings, and that he has not been put on any new work?

MR. CHERRY

I really do not know. The answer of the clerk is that Mr. Scully is still in the service of the guardians.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to find out whether the facts as to employment are not as I have stated.

MR. CHERRY

The hon. Member had better put his Question down.

MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the letter from Mr. Scully in The Times to-day in which he entirely corroborates the statement that he has been discharged?

MR. CHERRY

No, Sir.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will get it and read it.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

He has not the time to do it.