§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the hundred agricultural banks and credit societies which he stated to be in arrear for two years or more with their annual returns are all situated in Ireland; whether he can state to how many of these societies the Agricultural Department or the Congested Districts Board has lent money; and what arrangements exist for the regular audit or inspection of the accounts of these societies?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no material for answering the second part. As regards the third part, every society registered under the Friendly Societies Acts is required to have its accounts audited not less often than once a year, and annual returns have to be furnished to the Registrar, containing the accounts as signed by the auditors.