§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that John P. Tierney, of Johnstown, Magheraveely, county Fermanagh, a farmer occupying a holding of 43 acres, applied to the Board of Works for an advance of £100 to enable him to erect farm buildings on his holding, and that his application was refused by the Board of Works on the ground that the existing buildings were sufficient; that a demand was made by the Board of Works for payment of a sum of £4 2s. for making an inspection in reference to the loan applied for; that a civil bill process to recover the amount was brought before the county court judge and adjourned till the next quarter sessions for the district; does the inspector making the inspection live at Enniskillen, within 20 miles of Tierney's farm, and in these circumstances is the demand made disproportionate, and will it tend to prevent tenant farmers from applying for loans to improve their holdings lest they may be refused, with a liability for cost of inspection; and can a remission of the charge in this case be directed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe facts are correctly stated except that the loan was requested for the purpose of building a dwelling-house, and was refused because, when the inspector's report was received, it was considered that the house on the lands, built in 1897, was sufficient for the agricultural requirements to which alone the Board are bound to have regard. The charge is based, as required by statute, on the actual expenses incurred, that is to say, travelling expenses paid, plus a 1188 charge for the inspector's time at 5s. per hour, which is a reasonable rate, and that regularly charged. The case is, as stated in the question, sub judice.