§ MR. ALEXANDER BLANE (Armagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the President of the Queen's College, Belfast, permitted a private ball to be held in the Examination Hall of the College, and if it had the sanction of the College Council; whether preparations and decorations were made for the ball, in which the porters and other officials of the College were employed; whether one of the porters sustained such injuries by a fall on the well waxed floor whilst taking down the decorations, as incapacitated him for some time from his duties; whether the grant to the College can properly be chargeable with the expense of fêtes of this kind; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will take the necessary steps to prevent the College funds, buildings, and officials being employed for other purposes than those specified in its charter?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, the President of the College informed him that, as a matter of fact, there had never been a ball held in the examination hall. When not required for College purposes the use of the hall was granted for concerts and other purposes. Out of College hours the porters and other officials gave their assistance in making preparations and decorations, for which they were paid by the persons who employed them, and no portion of such expense fell on the College funds. Such use of the hall as he had mentioned was not at variance with the practice of the University Colleges of England. The occasion to which the Question of the hon. Member referred was of a private character.