§ MR. SHEEHAN (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway Company, with a capital of £150,000, consists of nine members, while there are 10 Directors, only two of whom hold shares in the Company, and that the 10 Directors will be able to draw £20 a year each from the receipts; whether he is aware that the Directors, over seven months before the opening the line, appointed a Secretary at £200 a year, and a Manager at £150, which they have lately increased to £200 a year; while, on several other railway lines, the duties of the two offices are performed by one official; whether the Secretary was appointed at a meeting of the Board without any previous public announcement, that he is the son of the Vice Chairman of the Company, both of whom are engaged in local commercial business, and that the appointment has given rise to a great deal of dissatisfaction among the other local traders, since their business over the line will be open to the inspection of a rival trader, thus placing them at a very serious disadvantage; and whether, since this line was built under the Tramways (Ireland) Act of 1883, the Treasury will contribute half the required guarantee, when such expenses have been incurred?
§ SIR H. MAXWELL (for Mr. JACKSON)The Treasury has no official information, but I understand that the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway Company consists of 11 shareholders, who hold the entire capital of £150,000 between them. There are 10 Directors, of whom 6 are appointed by the shareholders, 2 of them holding shares in the Company; 3 are appointed by Baronies, of whom one holds shares in the Company; and the 10th is appointed by the Tralee Town Commissioners. There is no qualification necessary for Directors. The fees 1383 payable to Directors are £1 1s. per meeting—not exceeding £20 per annum each. I am informed that the Directors have received no fees for the last five years. A Secretary was appointed in May, 1885, at a salary of £200 per annum, and his successor, the present Secretary, was appointed in August last at the same salary. The traffic manager was also appointed in August last at £150 per annum. He also acts as station master in Tralee, and I am informed that the Directors propose to increase his salary by £50 per annum. The Secretary was unanimously appointed by the Board, but without previous public announcement; he is the son of the Vice Chairman, who, like himself, is engaged in local commercial business. The contribution of the Treasury to the guarantee on the shares will be paid, subject to the conditions of the Tramways (Ireland) Act, 1883, which provides for a proper audit of the accounts.