§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Garristown and Delvin 770W Drainage District Board have instituted proceedings in Chancery for payment of arrears of maintenance rate assessed so far back as 1902; whether three of the defendants are Noble Lords, one of them chairman of the Board; whether all or any of the other defendants and, if so, how many were invited or given notice of the date of election of the plantiff Board; if not, whether the principle of no taxation without representation is outraged in this case; if he will state whether the Commissioners will suggest that the Board should legalise its existence by a formal election at the earliest date; and whether the arrears of maintenance rate could be collected in a less extensive manner by a Civil Bill process as laid down in the Act of 26 and 27 Vict.?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Board of Works are not in possession of information which would furnish an answer to the first half of the hon. Member's question, and pending the proceedings to which he refers, I do not propose to institute inquiry. The Act 26 and 27 Vict., c. 88, makes provision for an annual election in September, and I see no reason for making the suggestion mentioned. As regards the concluding part of the question, the Act provides two methods of collecting arrears of maintenance rate (1) proceedings in the Court of Chancery, and (2) Civil Bill process. The Drainage Board were no doubt advised as to which course they should adopt.