LORD MUSKERRYMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name, namely, whether the attention of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has been called to the proceedings of the Sligo County Council on the 25th of May last, in connection with the printing contracts, and, if so, whether he can indicate any means by which the ratepayers can protect themselves against such reckless expenditure.
§ THE EARL OF DENBIGHIn the absence of the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, I have to inform the noble Lord that the attention of the Local Government Board has been called to the proceedings of the Sligo County Council of the 25th of May last, when a tender to execute the printing of the Council for £250 a year was accepted, notwithstanding that there were two other tenders for £175 10s. and £122 10s. respectively. The Board have no power to intervene in the matter, but it is open to any ratepayer who feels aggrieved to appear before the Local Government Board Auditor and question the additional expenditure involved by the acceptance of the highest tender. In the event of the auditor not making a surcharge, it would be competent for the ratepayer to bring the matter before the courts, with the view of obtaining an authoritative judicial decision on the question.