§ Mr. MITCHELL - THOMSONasked whether the Chief Secretary is aware that the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction have been consulted by the Newtownards District Council as to the powers possessed by local authorities to take and hold on lease land for technical schools, and that the Department have expressed the opinion that local authorities have such powers; and, if so, whether he can state upon what statute the Department relied in giving this opinion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland were advised that there is an implied general power to take land, on leasehold tenure or otherwise, for the purposes of Technical Instruction given by the Technical Instruction Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vict. chap. 76), which Act provides Local Authorities with the general power to "supply" technical instruction.