§ MR. PHILIP STANHOPEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent application of the Manchester Ship Canal Company to the Corporation of Manchester for financial assistance, and to the fact that the Manchester Ship Canal Acts contain provisions for the vesting of the undertaking, under certain circumstances, in a public Trust; and if, in view of this application, he will afford facilities for the discussion of the Canal Development Bill, now before Parliament for the fourth succeeding Session, or will allow it to be referred to a Select Committee, in order that the whole question of the development of canals under responsible Public Authorities may be adequately considered?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHYes, Sir; I am aware of the application of the Manchester Ship Canal Company to the Corporation of Manchester, and of the provisions of the Manchester Ship Canal Act. I do not quite see the connection between the first part of the hon. Member's question and the second, and at present I do not propose to ask the House to consider the whole question of the development of canals.