§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consent to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the constitution of the Irish Lights Board, with a view to the alteration or reconstruction of the Board upon 172 a basis satisfactory to the mercantile and shipping community in Ireland?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE(Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)The constitution of the Irish Lights Board has long been admitted to deserve inquiry— and I say this without any disparagement of the present members of the Board, who have shown much zeal and capacity in the discharge of their duties—with a view to placing the Board upon a basis more representative of the shipping interests of Ireland. I shall, therefore, be prepared to assent to the appointment of a Select Committee for that purpose. But as the whole subject of light dues and the lighthouse authorities for the United Kingdom is at present being considered by a Committee of great weight, presided over by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin, I think that before expressing an opinion as to a time for the appointment of such a Select Committee I should inquire when the Report of that Departmental Committee will be presented, which I hope may be very shortly.
§ MR. T. SEXTONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman had any objection to refer to the Committee the Bill on the subject of the Irish Lights Board which stood on the Paper.
§ MR. BRYCEI cannot say that the Bill, so far as I know its provisions, would furnish a good basis for the reconstruction of the Board. I should like, therefore, to reserve my answer to that question.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLESIs there any precedent for the formation of a Lights Board by election?
§ MR. G. W. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)asked when the Report of the Departmental Committee would be laid on the Table of the House?