HC Deb 22 June 1888 vol 327 cc976-7
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Does he still intend paying £3,500 to the Lagan Navigation Company for taking over the Ulster and Tyrone Canals, which have cost the country £300,000; will he, at least, not make over to them the profit rental of £130 a-year for lands and houses; will he make inquiry, before paying the £3,500, as to the truth of Mr. J. G. V. Porter's statement in his newspaper of June 13, that he, in 1875, bought £2,000 worth of Lagan Company's Stock for £300, and that Messars. Wyat, solicitors, have a claim of £1,500 against the Lagan Company for promoting the Ulster Canal Bill; is the Lagan Company a limited or an unlimited liability Company; and will any security be taken by the Treasury that none of the £3,500 granted by the taxpayers shall go to defray Bill promotion; but shall all be laid out in works on the Ulster and Tyrone Canals?

THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)

Sir, I think it will be the intention of the Government to propose to Parliament an Estimate for the sum of £3,500, as stated in the first Question. I do not think, with reference to the second Question, that the rental of the land and houses should be separated from the general undertaking. With reference to the third paragraph, I have no information; nor with regard to Paragraph 4. With regard to the fifth Question, I will endeavour to make the best arrangement I can to secure that the £3,500 shall be spent on the works.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Might I ask the hon. Gentleman, before this Company is to get a gift of £300,000 and a second gift of £3,500, whether he would first make himself acquainted with the matter—namely, that this Company, which is alleged to be worth £70,000, sold £2,000 worth of its Stock a few years ago for £300; and also inquire whether this is a Company of limited liability or unlimited, in order to give taxpayers some guarantee that these gentlemen have some assets at all events?

MR. JACKSON

I would remind the hon. and learned Gentleman that this Question did not appear on the Paper until this morning. I was engaged on a Committee upstairs, and had no time to make inquiry; but the hon. and learned Gentleman knows that I have already stated, when the Bill was in Committee, that I would take every precaution I could in the agreement handing over the property—if the agreement is come to—that every precaution shall be secured that the money shall be expended on the works.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I will repeat the Question. I might remind the hon. Gentleman that I sent him a copy of Mr. Porter's paper, Ireland's Gazette, which contained the statement, yesterday.

MR. JACKSON

Yes; but I think the hon. and learned Gentleman himself would hardly have accepted the mere statement of a newspaper.

MR. T. M. HEALY

It is right to state that Mr. Porter is a gentleman who has spent tens of thousand on such works.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!