§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked whether the Local Government Board is aware that several district councils are in the habit of giving undue preference in the letting of labourers' cottages; and whether the Board will direct the attention of all rural district councils in Ireland to the decision of the King's Bench Division that they are bound to frame regulations as directed by Section 29 of the Labourers Act, 1906, and that these regulations are to provide that on the first lettings preference is to be given to the labourers upon whose representations the scheme was based?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are not aware that it is habitual to give undue preference in the letting of labourers' cottages. The Board have called the attention of each district council to the necessity of framing the regulations required by the section referred to, and most of the councils who have been authorised to provide labourers' cottages have already submitted regulations containing the clause regarding first lettings. The Board are in communication with the remaining councils with a view to the requisite regulations being expedited.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the greater part of the district councils throughout Ireland have adopted the additional half-acre scheme under the Labourers' Acts, he will see his way to have a clause inserted in the Labourers' Bill now before Parliament making the scheme compulsory on those few councils who have refused to adopt it heretofore?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir. It is far more important that a labourer living in an insanitary hovel should be provided with a new cottage and half an acre than that an additional allotment should be given to one who already enjoys those advantages.