RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 29 April 1879)

§ MR. DELAHUNTY

rose to move— That, deeming it essential and necessary to increase and develop the resources of the three Kingdoms in every part thereof by the formation of Railways and Tramways, this House is of opinion that, in every district where, under existing circumstances, local traffic will not induce private enterprize to undertake such formation, and where the ratepayers, inhabitants, and others interested are willing to guarantee the annual interest and sinking fund upon the cost of construction, that the Public Works Loan Commissioners, or the Public Works (Ireland) Commissioners, with the consent of the Lords of the Treasury, should be empowered to advance the requisite moneys required for such works at the same rate of interest as is charged for sanitary loans. The hon. Gentleman said, in bringing forward this question, he considered it necessary to give some reasons as to why, in his opinion, the Government should accept the Resolution. He looked upon free exchange as necessary to the development of the resources of the country; and the reason why he had at times brought forward the question of the currency was that he believed that a course of action founded upon the lines of his Resolution was calculated to facilitate exchange between man and man by carrying the products of their industry from district to district. Hence the necessity of more railway accommodation. This country, no doubt owing to its free exchanges in money, had received great advantages; but, at the same time, there were por- 1427 tions of the country that had not been able to acquire railways, and it was in order that those districts should have the power to make railways that he brought forward his Motion. France, through its Ministry of Public Works, had agreed to spend £20,000,000 in adding railways to districts which now did not possess them. He did not ask the Government to do anything of the kind; but he wanted them, in districts where security could be given for annual interest on money required for construction and a sinking fund, to give the parties the benefit of their credit, in order that they might get the money cheap. There were many parts of the Kingdom which required that help, and no portion of the Kingdom more than Ireland. The people of Ireland were anxious to possess railways, and the county he represented (Waterford) had agreed to promote their construction, but difficulties were in their way. The course he suggested in his Resolution, if adopted, would remove those difficulties.