§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland upon what grounds the Local Government Board has refused to sanction a reduction in the rents of labourers' cottages during the period of the War; is he aware that in many cases the wages of the agricultural labourer during the winter months do not exceed 10s. a week and board, which is insufficient for the maintenance of a family and rent of houses; will he say what reason there is for refusing to allow the local authority in counties where they are willing to accept responsibility to help the poor over the winter by granting this concession; is he aware that the late Chief Secretary was agreeable to this proposal; and why it is now refused?
§ Mr. DUKEThere is legal objection to a reduction of rents of labourers' cottages owing to the provisions of Section 29 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, which enacts that the rents shall produce a reasonable return for expenditure. As the rents in the South of Ireland for cottages and acre allotments are mostly 1s. a week, any further reduction would not seem to be in accordance with the directions contained in that Act. I well know the inadequacy of Irish labourers' wages, but the proposed reduction would only affect labourers who arc in possession of cottages and allotments, and would seem to encourage the view that labourers' wages cannot be raised. My predecessor in one case sanctioned an abatement of 3d. per week.