§ MAJOR TRENCHasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government is aware that those charged with the carrying into execution of the works designed for the improvement of the Shannon in 1839, when they found that the tenders for their execution far exceeded the amounts at which they were estimated, deliberately substituted other plans for those designed by the Commissioners of 1835, and approved and embodied in the Act passed in 1839; and, whether the Government is aware that this was done with as it were closed doors, that is without those who were to pay for the works, and who were to have been benefited by their full and complete execution, being either consulted or informed upon the subject?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, if the hon. and gallant Member would read his own Question, he would readily excuse him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) for not having information with reference to the subject of it. The matter alluded to, occurred 34 years ago, and with closed doors, and even the hon. and gallant Member who knew the county so well had only become acquainted with the facts during the last fortnight. He did not see what bearing they had upon the 1529 question of the drainage of the Shannon one way or the other.
§ MAJOR TRENCHsaid, that as the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had failed to see that the Question had any bearing on the main question of the drainage of the Shannon, he had to ask, Whether, inasmuch as the carrying out of only one half of the works authorized for the improvement of the Shannon would of necessity leave the lands adjoining that river still subject to inundations, it did not necessarily follow that the action of the Government officials—if correctly described—must be taken to have a very considerable bearing on the present deplorable state of the Shannon?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he could not answer such a Question at a moment's notice, as he could not say whether the statement was correct.
§ MAJOR TRENCHAssume it to be correct, and I am prepared to substantiate it.