I suppose I should be thankful for small mercies. This, however, is a big mercy, because the range of debate on this particular Bill, although it is a small Bill, could be very wide indeed. The Bill relates to about 20 Acts of Parliament, 13 of which deal with housing legislation. Some interesting points have been raised by Senators who have contributed to the discussion. I was interested to hear some of their comments, especially the comments made by Senator Hawkins about the legislation in connection with elections. While it is untrue to say that the whole legislation in connection with elections in this country is inadequate, and all wrong, it is right to say that the legislation which provides for the making of petitions or the making of objections against improper elections is unsatisfactory. The legislation is provided by the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868. That procedure governs elections to the Dáil or Seanad, or local government bodies, and it is wrong to say it is out of date when, actually, it is not, but the procedure of the hearing of the petitions or objections seems to be out of date. God knows what would happen if anybody would object to any of us being elected to the Seanad or Dáil. But, I rather imagine that cumbersome though that legislation is, it could be applied to an appeal of that kind.
Senator Hawkins expressed displeasure at the way in which voters' lists are being compiled at the present time. We politicians, I suppose, have our own grievances in this respect, especially anybody with intimate knowledge of the working of an election on election day. We know it is disconcerting for members of all Parties to have calls from irate constituents or would-be voters, complaining that their names were not on the register, but I do not think there could be a lot of criticism in that respect, inasmuch as every single person in the country and every single political Party, have the remedy in their own hands.
These voters' lists are published every year and I think they are sent to the elected representatives in the Dáil, at least, as well as being placed on display in the post offices, and anybody who thinks he should be included or who thinks that there is somebody on it who should not be included can readily complain to the county registrar. I may say that public representatives and representatives of political Parties have used their rights from time to time to check these lists in so far as, let us say, sometimes their supporters are concerned, to ensure that some voters are included on the list—mainly, no doubt, voters who would support their own Party.
When we find that rate collectors compiling the register do not do their jobs thoroughly in accordance with the regulations or conditions laid down, the Department of Local Government has from time to time taken appropriate action; but I do not think that there is a great deal of criticism which could be levelled at the system of compilation of the electoral register.
Senator Hawkins raised the question about Section 65 of the 1941 Act. Actually, this particular section would not apply to borrowing for permanent works like housing, but I can assure the Senator that his remarks will be borne in mind when a new Bill, a permanent Bill, regarding borrowing is being considered by the Minister.
Senator O'Dwyer was very annoyed about the resale of cottages which had been purchased under the 1936 cottage purchase scheme. I was amazed to think that there was, to any extent at all, the resale of such cottages, because I rather imagined that county councils themselves had a right to impose a veto if they desired on such resales. I think I am right in saying that no owner of a purchased cottage can resell without the consent of the local authority. I think it is thoroughly undesirable that these cottages should be resold by agricultural labourers. It would be a very bad state of affairs to create a situation in which somebody from Dublin or Cork could come to a seaside resort and purchase a labourer's cottage for any amount, just to occupy it for two or three months during the summer evenings. I do not think that county councils generally would approve of such resales. These cottages have been provided for a certain class but, as Senator Baxter said, the term "agricultural labourer" embraces practically all sections in the rural areas, and I think it would be bad if any number of them were to pass out of the hands of the people for whom they were intended. I was interested to hear Senator O'Dwyer saying that it was happening in County Limerick.