§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have made inquiries through their inspectors as to the legality of the selection of a man named Bassett, as a tenant for a labourer's cottage in Ballyhea East division, Charleville rural district; whether the Local Government Board have received communications stating that several persons can prove that Has-set is in receipt of £1 a week as clerk in the Ballyhea creamery; and, as the aggrieved parties are labourers working at a low rate of wages and cannot undertake the expenses of a law suit, will the Local Government Board order an inquiry on oath to be held for the purpose of ascertaining whether the council have infringed the regulations as to letting of cottages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLOne of the inspectors of the Local Government Board attended a meeting of the rural district council, who still adhere to their opinion that Hassett is an agricultural labourer within the meaning of the Labourers Acts. The Board have received communications to the effect mentioned in the question. As the hon. Member has already been informed, it would be impossible for the Board to undertake to hold inquiries into every case in which it is alleged that the person selected as tenant is not an agricultural labourer within the meaning of the Acts. Even if the complaint in this instance were shown to be well founded, legal proceedings against the council would be necessary to compel them to determine the tenancy and make a new letting of the cottage.