§ MR. JOHNSTONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial, adopted at a public meeting, in Ardglass, County Down, on the 12th June, in favour of including a railway from Downpatrick to Ardglass in the Light Railway Bill recently introduced; whether the Second Report of the Royal Commission on Irish Public Works, dealing with railway extension in Ireland, specified this railway as the first of those to which the Commissioners recommended that assistance should be given; and whether, considering the great utility such railway would be in developing one of the most important fishing industries in Ireland, and its general benefit to the United Kingdom, he will favourably consider the claim of 410 this short line, which can be constructed at a small cost, to be included in the Bill before the House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe memorial mentioned has been received. It is also the case that the proposed railway is No. 1 on the list of lines specified by the Royal Commission as those to which they advised assistance should be given. I would, however, point out to my hon. Friend that the present proposals of the Government with regard to light railways have no reference to any particular scheme. Every case, however, coming within the scope of the Bill will receive careful consideration at the proper time.