HC Deb 20 April 1891 vol 352 cc929-30
MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)

I beg to -ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Directors of the Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon Light Railway Company maintain an office in Dublin, with a manager, secretary, and large staff of clerks, though they have also ample offices in Ballinamore with another manager and staff; whether a large part of their offices at Ballinamore has been let to the Arigna Mining Company at less than a fair profit rent; whether he is aware that the Baronial Auditor, appointed at Presentment Sessions for the Barony of Carrigallen, has been refused access to the books of the Company prior to the 1st November, 18S9, though without such access he cannot properly audit the accounts of the Company now under audit; whether the Company are in the habit of inviting tenders for contracts; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking -further action, either by the enforcement or amendment of the existing law, in order to control the expenditure of the Company in the interests of the cess-payers and the Treasury?

MR. JACKSON

The matter referred 'to in the question has not been otherwise brought before me, and I do not know whether the statements made are correct or not.

MR. KNOX

I beg to ask the Postmaster General what are the obstacles which prevent the use of the Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon Railway for the conveyance of mails; and what would be the cost of conveyance of the English mails arriving at Belturbet at 1.30 p.m. to Ballinamore and other stations on the Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon Railway, and by car to Swanlinbar from Bawnboy Station, thereby expediting their delivery by more than 12 hours?

MR. RAIKES

As regards the use of the Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon Light Railway for the conveyance of the mails, inquiry has shown that, independently of the question of expense, there would be no general advantage in using it for the night mails. As regards day mail services, I have received to-day some suggestions which I will carefully consider, and come to a decision upon them as soon as possible.