HC Deb 10 February 1882 vol 266 cc474-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the Charges of Railway Companies, and Canal Companies, and Railway and Canal Companies, for the conveyance of merchandize, minerals, agricultural produce, and parcels on Railways and Canals, into the Laws and other conditions affecting such charges, and into the working of the Railway Commission of 1873; and to report as to any amendment of the Laws and practice affecting the said charges and the powers of the said Commission that may he desirable, and to inquire into the Passenger Fares charged by Railway Companies and report thereon."—(Mr. Evelyn Ashley.)

Motion agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Committee do consist of Twenty-seven Members."—(Mr. Evelyn Ashley.)

EARL PERCY

asked the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Members of the Committee were the same as had sat previously?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

Identically.

MR. DICKSON

wished to point out that the North of Ireland was very much interested in this question, notwithstanding which, as far as he could see, no Irish Member representing that part of the country had been appointed upon the Committee from that side of the House. There was a considerable number of railways there, and it appeared to him very desirable that the district should be duly represented.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the words "Twenty-seven," in order to insert the words "Twenty-nine,"—(Mr. Dickson,)—instead thereof.

Question proposed, "That the words 'Twenty-seven' stand part of the Question."

MR. CALLAN

said, he did not consider it necessary that the North of Ireland should be represented on a non-political Committee by Members sitting in, or belonging to, any particular section of the House. He believed that Committees of this kind were quite non-political in their construction. More- over, he begged to assure the hon. Member who had just spoken that the North of Ireland was already admirably represented by one of the ablest men from Ulster—namely, the hon. Member for Downpatrick (Mr. Mulholland).

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

said, he believed that, on re-consideration, the hon. Member for Tyrone (Mr. Dickson) would see that a Committee consisting of 27 Members was rather an unwieldy one; and he therefore hoped that, having regard to the complicated nature of the questions which had to be inquired into, he would not press his Motion for the Committee to be extended.

MR. TOTTENHAM

said, as far as his knowledge went, the people of the North of Ireland were perfectly satisfied to leave their representation upon the Committee in the hands of the former Members.

MR. DICKSON

said, in deference to the remarks of the Secretary to the Board of Trade, he would ask leave to withdraw his Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Original Question put, and agreed to.

Committee to consist of Twenty-seven Members:—Committee nominated of Mr. BARCLAY, Mr. BARNES, Mr. BOLTON, Mr. CAINE, Mr. CALLAN, Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. CROSS, Mr. DILLWYN, Sir DANIEL GOOCH, Mr. GREGORY, Sir BALDWYN LEIGH-TON, Mr. LOWTHER, Mr. MONK, Mr. SAMUEL MORLEY, Mr. MILHOLLAND, Mr. W. NEWZAM NICHOLSON, Mr. O'SULLIVAN, Mr. RICHARD PAGET, Mr. JOSEPH PEASE, Mr. PELL, Mr. PHIPPS, Mr. SAMUELSON, Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH, Sir HENRY TYLER, Sir EDWARD WATKIN, and Mr. EVELYN ASHLEY:—Power to send for persons, papers, and records; Five to be the quorum.