MR. GOLDSMIDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is true that, since the 15th of May, 1874, Captain Tyler, the Chief Inspector of Railways under the Board of Trade, has accepted the permanent offices of President of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada and Chairman of the Central Argentine Railway Company; and, if correct, whether Captain Tyler has obtained permission of the Board of Trade to hold those appointments; and, considering the view expressed by him (as a Member of the Government) to the House on the 15th of May 1874, whether Captain Tyler will be allowed to retain such appointments?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, Captain Tyler has not accepted the office of chairman of the Central Argentine Railway Company. He was offered the chairmanship of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada Company some time ago by the Directors, and he expressed a willingness to accept that appointment subject to certain conditions; but those conditions could not be agreed to by the Company until their general meeting, which, I believe, is to be held in the first week in April. Captain Tyler has consequently not yet accepted the office, and it is uncertain whether he will do so or not. As soon, however, as he intimated his willingness to accept it, he placed his resignation of the office as Chief Inspector of Railways in the hands of the President of the Board of Trade; but he was requested to continue the discharge of his duties at the Board pending the decision of the question whether he would accept the chairmanship of the Grand Trunk Railway or not. He has not obtained leave from the Board to hold both appointments, and most certainly will not be allowed to retain his office under the Board if he accepts the chairmanship.