§ 5. Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether he is aware of the commercial embarrassments that have resulted from the War to eon-tractors to Poor Law unions in Ireland, especially in relation to flour and bread contracts, owing to the rise in the price of bread-stuffs; whether the Local Government Board in Ireland will empower the boards of guardians to terminate flour and bread contracts at the end of the half-year 31st March, instead of the end of the year 30th September, or else allow boards of guardians to give the contractors something over contract prices and thus save them from commercial ruin; and whether he is aware that boards of guardians in Ireland are willing to adopt either course towards their contractors if permission is given them by the Local Government Board?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Harry Verney)The Local Government Board are aware that there has been considerable fluctuation in the prices of commodities since the outbreak of the War. In cases where they have been asked to allow boards of guardians to terminate contracts they have replied that, as regards contracts entered into before the War, they would raise no objection to the guardians making up to the contractor any loss which he may have sustained by the outbreak of the War. As regards contracts entered into since the War began, the Board have stated that they could not assent to any departure from the terms of such contracts.