§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether local rating authorities in Ireland who refuse to have their accounts audited by the Local Government Board are competent to levy and collect rates and to give valid receipts to ratepayers which will exonerate such ratepayers from liability to pay their rates to any other authority?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am advised that the refusal of a local authority to submit its accounts for audit in accordance with law would not in itself necessarily invalidate a rate otherwise lawful. Certain local authorities have, however, acted illegally in directing their collectors to lodge the rates with persons other than the Banking Company duly approved as Treasurer and the Local Government Board are by my directions issuing instructions warning collectors of the illegality of this procedure and that any collectors guilty of it are liable to dismissal.