§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in view of the partial failure of "The Tramways Act, 1883," in the poorer districts of Ireland, the Government intend to introduce an amending Bill this Session; and, if so, whether they will propose amendments whereby the liabilities of the ratepayers, under Clause 10, may be further defined and limited, and whereby the Treasury may be enabled to pay their portion of the guarantee direct to the Tramway Company?
§ MR. BIGGARBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, I would like to ask him, Whether, or not, he would consider it his duty to encourage tramways being laid down in places where they would not pay if finished; and, also, if he would sanction schemes where the estimates were much in excess of what the real value would be?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I hope the hon. Member for Cavan sees that the Question is one which he should have put upon the Paper to-day. In answer to my hon. Friend (Mr. Buxton), I can only say that, until these schemes come before the Government, as required by the Act, it is impossible for them to review the working of the measure, or to propose Amendments, should such be required. I should be very glad to give my hon. Friend information upon a subject in which he takes such a personal interest; but regret that I cannot do so.