DRAINAGE—(IRELAND). (Hansard, 9 May 1850)

§ MAJOR BLACKALL
begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Drainage Advances for Ireland Bill? whether, in the meantime, orders have been issued to the Board of Works to proceed with the drainage works already commenced; and, also, whether it was the intention of the Government to propose any extension of the purposes to which money borrowed for the improvement of landed property in Ireland may be applied?

§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, in reply to the first question, that the Bill was quite ready, and would have been laid upon the table if there had been any prospect of proceeding with it, but the time of the House was, at present, pretty fully occupied. With regard to the second question, he was not authorised to make any of the advances proposed to be sanctioned by that Bill until the Bill had passed; but the balance in hand would be applied to the continuance of works, so far as it went. In reply to the last question, he might state that he intended to propose that money borrowed for the improvement of landed property, both in Great Britain and Ireland, might be applied to farm buildings. He must say that he had some doubts as to the propriety of this measure, and he believed there would be very great practical difficulties in carrying it out. He thought, however, that the question ought 1276 to be settled by the House, and he would make the proposal in the Bill, in order that the subject might be fairly and fully discussed.

§ COLONEL RAWDON
inquired whether the Bill would apply to flax-mills, because it was most important to encourage the growth of flax in Ireland?

§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, that was a point on which he must decline to give an opinion at present, but which might be fitly considered in Committee on the Bill.

§ MR. OSWALD
asked if there was any objection to lay the Bill on the table at once?

§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, the Bill was a mere repetition of the clauses of former Bills. He had made some corrections and alterations in the Bill only an hour ago, and he hoped to lay it on the table in a day or two.