§ 20. Mr. EDWARD KELLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if a number of road contractors entered into contracts 302 with the Donegal County Council on the 21st November, 1913, to keep various county roads in repair with a specified quantity of road metal for a term of five years, from 1st April, 1914, to 31st March, 1919; that, owing to the War, the increase in the cost of living and labour, and the upkeep of horses, their pre-war estimate was insufficient to pay for half the labour necessary for the contracts; that they applied to the county council for an increase of pay or a reduction in the annual amount of road metal which had to be used according to the contracts; that at several meetings during the years 1915, 1916, and 1917 the council recommended an increase of pay or reduction of 30 or 40 per cent. in road metal, but the Local Government Board refused to sanction either proposal; and will the Board now sanction a war bonus to these contractors who were compelled to carry out contracts at pre-war rates?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe facts are, generally, as stated in the first part of the question. The sanction of the Local Government Board was asked by the Donegal County Council to the payment of increased prices to road contractors in that county, owing to war conditions; but, the Board informed the Donegal authorities that they were not empowered to direct or approve the waiving of the terms of a contract, and that the council must act on their own responsibility in the matter. With regard to the proposed reduction in the quantity of the road materials, the Board were unable to approve of allowing the roads to become deteriorated by making a substantial reduction in the quantity of the material to be used in maintaining them. The Board suggested that fresh tenders should be invited before any increases in contract prices are considered.