23. Captain CRAIGasked whether Mr. Laurence Wickham has been appointed rate collector for the Pembroke Council; whether he was lately chairman of the Blackrock Urban Council; whether the law adviser of the Blackrock Urban Council is also chairman of the Pembroke Urban Council; whether Mr. Wickham held the licence of a public-house in Kingstown, and upon what date he executed a deed of transfer of the licence to his nephews; whether the deed was drawn up by the law adviser to the Blackrock Council; whether the police magistrate granted the transfer of the licence previous to the appointment of Mr. Wickham as rate collector to the Pembroke Council; and whether the Chief Secretary will state the qualifications of Mr. Wickham as a rate collector?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer to the first three paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Wickham held a licence for a public-house at Booterstown, which was transferred to Mr. Thomas J. Stacey, who, I understand, is no relation, on the 17th February, and the deed was drawn up by the solicitor to the Blackrock Council. Mr. Wickham's appointment as rate collector was approved by the Local Government Board on the 28th March. I am informed that Mr. Wickham received a commercial education, and was in business for a number of years. He has also been actively engaged in municipal work for the past fifteen years.