§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board can state at what weekly rent under the last Labourers Act labourers' 1748W cottages with half-acre allotments could be let in each of the unions of county Down without adding to the cost to the ratepayers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are not in a position to give a complete reply to this question. The weekly rents required to meet the charges on the rates in respect of the loans for the cottages are given in the following table, but the cost of repairs (which varies considerably), the cost of rent collection, and insurance premiums must also be taken into account. The Board are not in possession of these particulars.
Rural District. Loan per cottage. Charges falling on rates in respect of Loans. Weekly rent necessary to recoup rates. £ £ s. d. s. d. Banbridge 200 4 3 2 1 7¼ Castlereagh 174 3 12 4¼ 1 4¾ Down-patrick 6 separate Loans obtained. 196 4 1 6 1 7 170 3 10 8½ 1 4½ Hillsborough 208 4 6 6 1 8 Kilkeel 175 3 12 9¼ 1 4¾ Moira 240 4 19 9¾ 1 11 Newry No. 1 172 3 11 6½ 1 4½ Newtownards 179 3 14 5¼ 1 5¼