§ MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Government will consent to the appointment of a Select Committee, at the earliest possible time next Session, to inquire into the question of the Bann Drainage, and the best means of meeting the difficulty?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)I apprehend the course will be that the Bill will be introduced next Session; and when read a second time it will, in the ordinary course, be referred to a Select Committee as a Hybrid Bill.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)asked, would there be any opportunity afforded to Irish Members to express any opinion during the second reading of that Bill?
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked, would the Representatives of the British taxpayer be afforded a similar opportunity without being closured?
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked whether, between then and the introduction of the Bill, the Government would take steps to ascertain the local feeling, and also the feeling of Irish Members generally, on this Bill; and whether they would also see if some better system of voting on the question could be devised than the property tax?
§ MR. MADDENsaid, the Government would gladly receive any suggestions from any quarter with the view to the 149 possible improvement and development of the scheme.