§ MR. FOLEYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will exercise the necessary pressure on the Midland Great Western Railway Company to carry out the construction of the Galway and Clifden Railway within the time guaranteed by that Company for its completion; whether he is aware that at the Ballinaford and Clifden or western section of the line, during the winter months, nearly the whole of the men in that section have been dismissed, causing a very great amount of destitution; whether he is aware that the few men who have been retained are principally men who have been imported into the district, and who give a great deal of trouble to the peaceable inhabitants in consequence of their intemperate and quarrelsome conduct; and if he is aware that, notwithstanding the repeated promises given by the Congested Districts Board, no employment has been given to the unemployed and destitute people of the district?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERT(who replied said: I am informed that the progress of) the Galway and Clifden line in the hands of the present contractor is satisfactory, and that no cause for complaint exists on this score. I must point out that the Government has no power to interfere with the menus taken by the Company and the contractor to fulfil their obligations, or with the relations between the contractor and the workmen employed by him, nor has the Congested Districts Board any authority to interfere or to make any promise in the matter.