HC Deb 16 April 1914 vol 61 cc320-1
37. Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the charge of sinking the Delvin River was fixed on the Alexander estate in the original award made by the Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland)?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)

The cost of sinking the river was part of the total cost of the formation of the district, and the proportion of this total charge fixed on the Alexander estate is 528913.

38. Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked upon what date the existing Garristown and Delvin Drainage Board was elected; what notice of the election was given to owners of land who are qualified electors; whether the notice required by Statute was inserted in a local newspaper; and, if so, what was the name of the newspaper and the date of its publication?

Mr. MONTAGU

I understand that the last election took place on the 11th September, 1913, and that notice of the election was sent to members of the previous board, though not advertised in any newspaper.

Mr. PATRICK WHITE

Were the obligations of the Statute complied with?

Mr. MONTAGU

I understand that no notice was put in the local newspapers, but the actions of the board are by the Statute quite valid.

39. Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked whether the authority of a certificate made by the Commissioners of Public Works under the provisions of the Drainage and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Act, 1892, in the case of the Garristown and Delvin Drainage District Board is merely a document indicating that the assessment for maintenance made by the Drainage Board is fairly apportioned between the different owners of the affected lands; whether the Commissioners have any power to say that the gross amount levied is fair or equitable or whether they have any power to release the drainage board from the complete responsibility for the raising and expenditure of the maintenance rate vested in them by Statute; and whether, having regard to the statement made by the Commissioners that the amount was collectable by virtue of the authority of their certificate and its misleading effect in the public mind, they will modify the statement in that respect?

Mr. MONTAGU

Where, owing to sales or other causes, land originally forming one lot in a drainage award is divided amongst two or more owners, a certificate of apportionment by the Commissioners of Public Works is required in order to apportion the maintenance rate between the several divisions of the land, and the certificate is the authority for the Drainage Board to collect the maintenance rate in these proportions. The Commissioners of Public Works have no power to say that the gross amount levied is fair or equitable, nor any power to release the Drainage Board from the complete responsibility vested in them by Statute for the raising and expenditure of the maintenance rate. The statement made by the Commissioners that the apportioned amounts were collectable by virtue of the authority of their certificate does not appear to require modification.