§ MR. HARRIS (Galway, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that advertisements relating to the drainage works on the River Shannon are given to The Western Star, of Ballinasloe, and to The Galway Express, of the town of Galway, both Conservative papers, while The Western News, of Ballinasloe, a Liberal paper having four times the circulation of either of these journals, has been passed over and has got none of these advertisements; and, if so, would he instruct the Board of Works, or those who control such matters, to remedy this state of things?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The advertisements were sent by the Parliamentary agents; but I will inquire into the matter; and if I find that the paper in question has a larger circulation than those to which the advertise- 865 ments are at present given, and if it is not a newspaper which breaks the law, I will do what I can to put the matter right.