§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has any information to show that the Local Government Board have received any representations from the Newtownards Rural District Council as to the necessity for the provision of additional labourers' cottages in the district; whether any scheme for the erection of such cottages has been submitted by the district council, and, if so, upon what date; and whether he will direct the Local Government Board to hold a local inquiry into such scheme and expedite the matters connected therewith?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA scheme proposing the erection of 257 cottages was received by the Local Government Board on 9th December last, but all the requisite documents were not lodged until 9th May. No money being then available the holding of 829 an inquiry into the scheme was deferred pending the passing of the Labourers Act. The Board consider that in dealing with new schemes they must have due regard to the extent to which the Labourers Acts have already been put into operation by the councils which are applying for authority to provide additional labourers' cottages. Subject to this consideration, the inquiry into the Newtownards scheme will be ordered as soon as practicable. Three hundred and thirty-nine cottages have already been provided in this rural district, while the average for the several rural districts in Ulster is only 127.