§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Londonderry, S.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, When may the farmers of Derry and Antrim hope that the navigation works on the Bann will, in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission, be so altered or removed as to put a stop to the destructive flooding now taking place?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.)Under the existing law, Government has no power to take any initiative in the way of altering or removing the Bann navigation works. Under section 29 of the Act 19 & 20 Vict. c. 62, it is possible for five or more ratepayers to move the Lord Lieutenant to enforce proper maintenance on the part of the Navigation Trustees, and in such case the Treasury might, on the same being signified to them by the Lord Lieutenant, direct the Commissioners of Public Works to execute the necessary works, the expenses being afterwards recovered from the baronies or townlands liable for the expenses of the navigation. No such local action, however, has been taken, and therefore the Treasury cannot take any initiative in the matter. I may add that, as the difficulty arises from the existence of separate Drainage and Navigation Boards with conflicting interests, the Treasury would look with favour upon a proposal to consolidate by legislation the two Boards, with a view to arriving at an understanding as to whether, having regard to the interests of drainage, the navigation works can be maintained.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYasked if the hon. Gentleman was aware that the Lord Lieutenant had several times been applied to by the farmers without obtaining any redress?
§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLERa said, he had no information as to what Memorials had been presented to the Lord Lieutenant upon the subject. The Commissioners could only act upon the direction of the Lord Lieutenant. He would consider the other matter.