§ 78. Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that delay and expense occur in connection 746 with the acquisition of land for housing purposes and that several years frequently elapse even when there is no financial difficulty between the making of a scheme and the time when the local authority is in a position to enter upon the land and build houses, and that this is mainly due to defects in the law; whether the Government realises that in view of the urgency of the housing question suitable amendments in the law will be indispensable to enable local authorities to obtain possession of land which they have been authorised to acquire for housing purposes and without undue expense; and whether the Government is considering the application of the vesting order system as used in connection with the Land Purchase Acts to the business of housing, as explained in the paper read by Mr. Edward M'Hugh, taxing officer under the Labourers Acts, at the annual conference of the Association of Municipal Authorities held at Limerick on the 5th of September last, and the other suggestions contained in the paper, with a view to the institution of a reasonable procedure?
§ Mr. DUKEThe legal procedure under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Acts sometimes involves considerable delay. I am in communication with the Local Government Board as to what reforms in procedure are desirable, and I hope the whole question may be dealt with before large new schemes are practicable.