§ MR. BUTTasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it has been brought under the notice of the Lords of the Treasury that an offer has been accepted for the letting of Whitefield Lodge, a portion of the Phœnix Park, for a period of seventy-five years; and, whether the Lords of the Treasury will interfere to prevent such alienation of the property of the Crown being completed until this House has an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject?
§ MR. W. H. SMITH,in reply, said, the hon. and learned Gentleman was correct in saying that it was proposed to let Whitefield Lodge, a portion of the Phœnix Park, for a term of 75 years. Serious objections were, however, expressed as to letting public property for so long a period of time, and as he (Mr. Smith) to some extent concurred therein he had been in communication with his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland in regard to the inexpediency of alienating Crown property for that period.