§ MR. DE COBAIN (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the results of the recent plébescite in the city of Belfast, and as the citizens by a majority of nearly 11,000 votes had decided in favour of the acquisition of the Linen Hall site for the erection of new Municipal Buildings for Belfast, would he undertake, as far as possible, to facilitate the passing of such legislation as would ensure the accomplishment of the much-needed object for which such a large number of votes were recorded?
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Before the right hon, and learned Gentleman answers the question, may I ask whether it is the fact that 4,000 of the burgess's of Belfast voted against the proposal, and that the question was submitted in such a form that the burgesses generally had no opportunity of expressing an opinion as to whether it is desirable to erect a new Town Hall at a cost of upwards of £100,000?
§ * MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Is it true that over 14,000 voted in favour of the proposition, and only some 4,000 against; and was not the opposition got up by the Nationalists?
§ MR. MADDENI have not made inquiries as to what the numbers were who voted pro and con. No Return has been sent in, but I will ask for information. As to the question on the Paper, I have to say that the attention of the Chief Secretary has been called to the matter referred to in the question of my hon. Friend. As regards the portion of the question in which he asks that facilities may be given 132 for passing the necessary Act of Parliament, I have to point out that the matter is one which appears to be suitable to be dealt with by means of Private Bill legislation in the ordinary manner.