§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he received resolutions from the Irish Land and Labour Association demanding fixity of tenure for tenants of labourers' cottages; and, if so, what action he intends to take in reference thereto?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have not received the resolution referred to. No action appears to be necessary in the matter, as the tenants of labourers' cottages have for all practical purposes fixity of tenure at present, as they are not likely to be disturbed by the rural district councils as long as they pay the very moderate rents charged for the cottages and keep the plots reasonably cultivated.
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§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in the allocation of the additional million voted for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts in 1911, the Local Government Board exercised a discretion which was unfair and unjust to those district councils who had been doing their duty to the labourers for twenty years previously; and whether he intends to introduce legislation to prevent any such improper discrimination in the future?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have frequently stated the policy of the Local Government Board in their allocation of the additional million voted for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts in 1911, has been to secure as far as possible that the money should be applied towards providing labourers' cottages in those districts where they appear to be most needed, having regard to the number of cottages already provided and the number of agricultural labourers in such districts.