§ SIR CHARLES LEWIS (Antrim, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that officials of many years' service will be deprived of emoluments on which some of them have to live, and will be deprived of their livelihood by the Bann Drainage Bill; and, whether he is prepared to propose the granting of reasonable compensation to all whose employment or office is so destroyed by the Bill?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I have no official knowledge about the matter referred to in the first paragraph of my hon. Friend's Question. I presume he refers to the servants of the Navigation Company. This Company spends annually £1,100 in keeping up the navigation, and receives £70. I cannot advise, therefore, that the navigation be maintained; and I conceive that it is not the duty of the Government to award compensation to any servants but its own. At the same time, I should be glad if these persons could be employed on the drainage works.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked, was it not a fact that these men would not be deprived of anything unless this Bill passed into law?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURconceived that that was so; but he was not certain.