§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, as Chairman of the Select Committee on Railways, If he can account for the publication by the daily newspapers of the Draft Reports submitted to that Committee, before they have been finally decided on?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo, Sir; I cannot account for the circumstance. All that I have been able to ascertain is that the first publication of the Draft Report was in the Dublin Free-mail's Journal. I think, however, that, with the permission of the House, I may be allowed to say that if that publication has occurred through the instrumentality of any Member of the Committee, I cannot understand how any Gentleman could consider it consistent with his duty to the House to treat a Paper marked "strictly private and confidential" as one which should be laid before the public.