§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a letter, in The Derry Journal of the 25th February, from the parish priest of Gweedore, in Donegal, complaining that the powers of the Tramways Act are being exercised in the interest of the landlord class; that congested and impoverished districts will not be relieved by the projects now under consideration; and that, in particular,
Instead of the available influence being used for the benefit of the poor and starving tenantry of Gweedore and other such localities, the whole landlord power of north-western Donegal is concentrated on forcing a line of Railway to the hall doors of the only two resident landlords in the district;whether he has considered that the predominant part assigned to county Grand Juries, under the Tramways Act, seriously jeopardise the interests of the bulk of the populations; and, whether Government propose to amend the Tramways Act by a measure giving efficient authority to representatives of the ratepayers?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have seen the letter referred to in the Question of the hon. Gentleman. The Government has no authority to interfere as to the particular part of a county through which proposed lines may be intended to run, and cannot prejudge the action of the Grand Juries with regard to the several schemes which may be brought before them. After the schemes have been decided upon by the Grand Juries, and when the cases come before the Privy Council, any 20 ratepayers, representing one-eighth of the liability to the county cess, can present a Petition against the 370 scheme, and can be heard. The Government does not propose to alter the Act.