88. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the numerous cases in which Poor Rate collectors in Ireland were deprived of their positions under duress by local bodies or by the Irish Republican Army in 1920 and 1921 because they carried out the instructions of the Local Government Board in Ireland, which was then a Department of the British Government, instead of obeying the contrary instructions of the local bodies; whether he is aware that these men have received no salary or allowances since 1920, and have thereby suffered heavy losses; that repeated representations have been made to the British Government on this matter; and that the late Chief Secretary promised these men that grants payable to the Provisional Government would not be paid until they were paid by the Provisional Government; and whether he will take steps to see that these men are paid?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am aware that a certain number of rate-collectors have lost their employment in circumstances such as those referred to by the hon. and learned Member. His Majesty's Government has been in correspondence with the 243 Free State Government in the matter, who have taken the view that these officers are not entitled to pension or gratuity under the provisions of Section 8 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1919; and, in fact, the Local Government Board did not award any such pensions or gratuity in these cases as in the other cases in respect of which representations were made to and assurances received from the Provisional Government. The Free State Government has, however, offered to submit the case of these men to independent arbitration, and the necessary steps for this purpose are being taken.
Sir J. BUTCHERCan the hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that he is adhering to the pledge given by the late Chief Secretary in February, 1922, to the effect that no grants will be paid to the Irish Government by this country unless and until the Irish Government have paid their debts to these rate collectors?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think that would hardly be practicable, as we have arranged to pay certain advances to the Irish Free State Government as compensation. The matter is under arbitration now, and I hope it will be settled satisfactorily.