§ MR. DE COBAINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Belfast Street Tramway Company had, on the construction of their lines through the City of Belfast, infringed the provisions of the Act of Parliament which provides for a space of nine feet sis inches being left at either side of the tramway lines, and that, notwithstanding this infringement proved a serious inconvenience to vehicular and other traffic at Donegall Street and other important thoroughfares, the Belfast Corporation, which had charge of the streets, took no steps to enforce compliance by this company with the provisions of the Act; and would he call upon the Local Authority to have the law in this particular observed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe matter referred to is not one under the control of the Executive Government. I understand, however, that the Belfast Tramway Acts confer on the Corporation certain discretionary powers, and that in any case where there has been a departure from the nine feet six inches space mentioned, the Corporation have sanctioned it.