§ MR. J. O'CONNORI beg to ask the Attorney General whether he intends to recommend the Government to apply to Parliament for a further sum of money for the purposes of the Commissioners of the British and Irish section of the Chicago Exhibition; and whether he has taken any steps with the Commissioners to have a separate grouping of Irish exhibits, under distinctively Irish management or sub-management, with a separate sum set apart for the purposes of Irish exhibitors?
§ SIR T. ESMONDEI beg to ask the Attorney General whether the Government will agree to an increase of 43 the funds available for the organisation of a representative exhibition of Irish industries at the Chicago Exhibition; and, if so, to what amount; and whether in consideration of the strong feeling in Ireland in favour of a separate Irish section at the World's Fair the Government will favourably consider the proposal?
SIR R. WEBSTERIn reply to the questions of the hon. Member for Tipperary and the hon. Baronet the Member for Dublin, the Royal Commission for the Chicago Exhibition have presented a memorial to Her Majesty's Government asking for a substantial increase of the amount to be granted in connection with the British section. The Commission have carefully considered the question of a separate Irish section and separate management for Irish exhibits, and they are in communication with leading gentlemen from Ireland upon the subject. At present, however, the feeling of Irish exhibitors appears to be that it would not be desirable to have the Irish Exhibits separately grouped, and that it would be distinctly unfavourable to the exhibitors for that course to be adopted. The matter is, however, receiving careful consideration.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORI would like to ask the hon. and learned Gentleman how soon he will be able to give us the information he has promised, and I would also like to know whether it is intended to add to the Commission any representatives of Irish industries?
* SIR R. WEBSTERThe matter really Cannot be determined until all the exhibits have come in. It is quite possible there may be some things which it will be desirable to localise and others which may be otherwise dealt with, but there can be no final determination in this matter in the meantime. As to the other question I have received no notice of it, but in reference to adding to the Commission gentlemen representing Irish industries, that matter will be carefully considered on the re-election of the Council in May.