§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received the Reports of the Irish Board of Works on the various Light Railways promoted under the Act of last Session; and, whether the Treasury will propose agreements to the promoters in time to be arranged before the approaching Spring Assizes?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.I have not received the Reports referred to by the lion, and gallant Member, but no time will be lost in coming to a decision.
§ MR. HALLEY STEWART (Lincolnshire, Spalding)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the following statement in the Freeman's Journal, referring to the proceedings of the Board of Works under "The Light Railways (Ireland) Act, 1889:"—
The reports of the proceedings show that when Mr. James Barton, C.E., sat as a Commissioner in Galway it became his duty to inquire into the merits of four rival schemes for connecting Galway with Clifden, for one of which the engineer who prepared the plans and surveys was Mr. James Price, C.E. A few days later Mr. Barton turns up in Donegal the promoting engineer of a line in that county—which has also several competitors—before the same Mr. Price, acting as a Commissioner in Donegal;whether the engineers of the successful, lines will be entitled to considerable sums1 of money in fees; and, whether he will take steps to prevent persons who have themselves pecuniary interests in schemes promoted under this Act from taking any further part in its administration?
§ MR. JACKSONMy attention was called to the paragraph by the hon. Member's question. Perhaps my best answer will be to refer him to an advertisement which appeared in the same paper on the 7th of January, to the effect that the Court of Inquiry into the light railway schemes for Donegal would be composed of Major General Hutchinson, R.E., Inspector of Railways to the Board of Trade; Mr. James Price, an eminent Irish engineer; Mr. Edwin Liller, a gentleman of great experience in railway business; and Mr. W. L. Micks, Inspector to the Local Government Board; while for Galway the Court was composed of Sir John Ball Greene, the Commissioner of Valuation in Ireland; Mr. James Barton, an Irish engineer of eminence; Mr. E. J. Cotton, general manager of the Belfast Northern Counties Railway; and Mr. Arthur Bourke, Local Government Board Inspector. Every possible care was taken to Secure that the inquiries should be conducted and the Reports made with absolute impartiality, and, so far as I know, the conduct of the inquiry has given complete satisfaction, although, owing to the great activity in railway circles in Ireland produced by the Act, it was not possible to obtain the services of railway engineers whose professional eminence would command confidence, and who at the same time were entirely unconnected with any scheme under the Act. The fees of the engineers of successful schemes will form part of the cost of promotion, subject to the approval of the Treasury.
§ MR. H. STEWARTHaving reference to the last paragraph of my question, does the hon. Gentleman approve of the practice of persons having a pecuniary interest in schemes promoted under this Act taking a further part in its administration.
§ MR. JACKSONYes, Sir; I do approve of what has been done. The question has been most carefully considered, and unless we had employed for the inquiry engineers brought over from England or some other place than Ireland, it was impossible to take any course other than that adopted. I have satisfied myself 576 that proper precautions were taken. The chairmen of the inquiries were men of eminence and undoubted responsibility, snd I have never heard one single word of complaint.
§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)Does the hon. Gentleman admit that Mr. Barton was appointed to report on Mr. Price's scheme, and Mr. Price on Mr. Barton's scheme?
§ MR. JACKSONI believe it is the fact, but as far as I am able to judge, there is not the smallest reason to doubt the absolute impartiality of both of these gentlemen.
§ MR. CLANCYWill the hon. Gentleman explain how it came about that Mr. Barton was allowed to report upon Mr. Price's scheme and that Mr. Price was allowed to report upon Mr. Barton's scheme, when, according to his own statement, there were three other engineers engaged in each case?
§ MR. JACKSONIn both cases the engineer was selected who commanded the general confidence of the public.
§ MR. CLANCYWhen the estimates are brought on I will call attention to this matter.