§ MR. ROSS (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether seven years' interest is due by the Sligo, Leitrim, and Northern Counties Railway Company to the Board of Works on part of the sum of £99,000, allowance for the construction of that line; what steps are being taken to enforce payment of this interest; find whether he is aware that goods are brought from Sligo by this line at exceeding low rates to Enniskillen and the neighbourhood, and that the trade between the Enniskillen district and the port of Londonderry has been discontinued in consequence of the unfair competition rendered possible by the expenditure of public money?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)The sum in arrear for interest is equal to seven years' interest at 4 per cent. on the Board's loan of £99,575. The interest at 4 per cent. is guaranteed by certain obligors, but some years ago the Treasury reduced their liability to 2 per cent., and interest at this rate is collected from them annually. There are at present practically no net receipts from the earnings of the line to make up the remaining 2 per cent. Sligo is, I am informed, the nearest port to Enniskillen, being 11 miles nearer than Londonderry, but I am not aware that the competition is unfair.
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI will endeavour to obtain information.