§ MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proposal to establish a public park for the town of Lurgan, and to the protest made against the proposal by a meeting representing all classes of the ratepayers on 16th April last; whether he is aware that the rates in Lurgan are proportionately high, and that the proposed scheme for a public park would mean a considerable increase in the liability of the ratepayers and a corresponding rise in the rents paid by the working classes, that the ground selected for the park is low-lying, wet, and unsuitable, and the price to be paid out of all proportion to the value of the land, and that the park is unnecessary, since no part of the town is more than ten minutes' walk from the open country; whether he has any official information showing that the proposed expenditure would be better applied to improving the market accommodation of Lurgan; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, he will instruct the Local Government Board to make careful inquiry into 1312 the proposal before permitting it to be carried out.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have received an application from the urban district council for sanction to a loan of £3,500 for the purpose mentioned, but they have no information as to the protest referred to in the Question. The Board are taking steps to hold a local inquiry into the application for the purpose of investigating the whole circumstances of the case. Public notice of the inquiry will be given, and any person interested may attend and make objections to the application.