§ MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware of the fact that, within the last week, a flood in the Lower Bann has destroyed crops of the value of £3,000 to the farmers of that district; if the Bann Drainage Association state that the works to be executed under the Bann Drainage Bill would have prevented such a disastrous loss; and, if it is now impossible to pass a larger Bill this Session, will the Government introduce a small Bill to remove the locks and other hindrances to the free flow of the river, thus saving the district from floods and the annual cost of maintaining a navigation the Royal Commission state to be useless? The hon. Gentleman also inquired, if the right hon. Gentleman had seen the report of a meeting held at Portadown on Saturday last, at which the loss to farmers of the district of the Upper Bann was estimated at £20,000?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, B.)I have not seen the report alluded to; but I can well believe that both on the Upper and Lower Bann very serious damage may have been caused by the recent floods. There is, as my hon. Friend is aware, little chance of passing any Bill, small or large, dealing with this subject during the present sitting of the House. I am not without hopes of inducing the House to pass this Bill during the Autumn Session.
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of putting up placards in the district, informing the people of the inestimable advantages that are derived by them from the Parnellite Party?
§ [No reply.]