HC Deb 16 September 1914 vol 66 cc950-1W
Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland), whether the qualification of membership of a drainage board, specified in the Act of 1863, means that a qualified member should be the owner of not less than 20 acres of land within the boundary of the district or the owner of 20 acres subject to a drainage charge?

Mr. MONTAGU

The qualification of membership referred to by the hon. Member is that the member shall be the proprietor of not less than 20 acres of land within the area of the district—not necessarily land subject to a drainage charge.

Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland), whether, having regard to the operation of the Land Purchase Acts in Ireland bringing responsibility for drainage charges upon numerous new owners hitherto unacquainted with the provisions of the Drainage Acts, he will state whether the words in the Act of 1863, that the chairman should convene a meeting of the electors annually in September of each year, is to be interpreted as meaning that each elector should be notified by circular of the place and date of meeting apart from any advertisement that might appear in a local newspaper; and, if so, having regard to the importance of the matter, an intimation of their responsibility will be conveyed to all chairmen of drainage boards?

Mr. MONTAGU

The Drainage Act, 3863, prescribes in detail the notice of any meetings for the election of new members of a drainage board to be given by the returning officer, namely:—

"By advertisement in some one or more of the newspapers circulating in the district:

By causing a copy of such notice to be affixed to the outer door of the office of the board:

Such advertisement to be published, and copy to be fixed, fourteen days before the day appointed for such election."

The Statute does not require that a notice should be sent to each elector. In these circumstances, the Board of Works do not propose to issue any intimation to the chairmen of drainage boards on the subject.