Mr. More O'Farrellpresented a Petition from the Clergy, Gentry, and other Freeholders of certain districts of the county of Dublin, complaining of the amounts levied as tolls upon the roads in Ireland, such heavy tolls were charged upon manure and various articles of agricultural produce, which were allowed to pass free in England, that they were a great injury to agriculture. These 383 evils were aggravated, in the opinions of the petitioners, by the manner in which private bills passed that House. They were often hurried through without those who were most interested having any opportunity to examine into their provisions. This subject had excited considerable sensation in Ireland, and he was prepared to show, at the proper time, that several of the roads could be better and cheaper managed than by the present trustees, who, he had reason to believe, occasionally employed the funds collected more for their own advantage than for the public benefit, by employing their own tenants on the works, whom they paid with tickets instead of money, and to whom they allowed a higher rate of wages than usual, that they might in return charge them with a higher rent upon his holdings. His object was, to ask for a Committee of Inquiry into this subject.
§ Lord Brabazonsaid, this was a subject which, he could assure the House, required investigation. He was sorry to say, that many very respectable persons allowed themselves to be named as trustees without taking any part in the management of the roads, whereby they became passive instruments in the hands of certain interested persons, who found their own account in jobbing on the roads.
Mr. O'Connellagreed with the hon. Member and the noble Lord, that this was was a subject which demanded inquiry; he, therefore, trusted the hon. Member would appoint a day for moving for a Committee, and he should have his best support.
Mr. Sheilbegged leave to suggest, that the appointment of a permanent Committee on Irish affairs would be found very useful. It would save the House much time to refer many of the petitions, which were usually attended with discussion if presented to the House, to such a Committee.
§ Petition to be printed.