HC Deb 18 June 1896 vol 41 cc1332-5
MR. J. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whe- ther he is aware that, although it is provided by the Act constituting a Harbour Board at Killybegs, county Donegal, that the Board should consist of seven members, of whom three were to represent the Congested Districts Board, two the Donegal Railway Company, and two the district of Killybegs, Mr. Arthur Brooks, who is one of the two gentlemen appointed to represent the district of Killybegs, is also a director of the Donegal Railway Company, representing as such director baronies guaranteeing the interest of a portion of the share capital of the Company, thus giving the Railway Company a representation not of two members but of three on the said Board; whether he is also aware that, on the death of Father Martin, the other representative of the district, his place was filled by the appointment of a Lieutenant Phillips, a Coastguard officer; will he inquire why, in place of Father Martin, some local resident connected with the people was not appointed to the Board; will he take steps to put an end to the representation of the Donegal Railway by three members instead of two; and, whether steps will be taken to remedy these grievances by the appointment, as representatives of the district of Killybegs, of two Commissioners who will really reflect the feelings of that locality and possess the confidence of the people?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Provisional Order constituting the Killybegs Harbour Board names seven gentlemen who shall be the first Commissioners, and further provides that at the expiration of three years the Board shall consist of three members to be nominated by the Chief Secretary, two members to be appointed by the Directors of the Donegal Railway Company; and two members to be elected by the Parliamentary voters of the Killybegs electoral division. Mr. Brooks's name appears in the directorate merely as the representative of the baronies guaranteeing the interest on a very small portion of the share capital of the Company, and he cannot be regarded in the ordinary sense as a shareholders' director of the Railway Company. On the death of Father Martin, Lieutenant Phillips, the divisional officer of Coastguard, was nominated in his place as being a suitable local resident, and at the expiration of three years Lieutenant Phillips and Mr. Brooks will retire under the provisions of the Order and the vacancies will be filled, as I have stated, by the Parliamentary voters of the locality.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that very great discontent had arisen owing to the nomination of Mr. Brooks, and that by the appointment of Lieutenant Phillips, the Donegal Railway Company——

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is arguing the Question.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Then the first part of my Question is in order.

* MR. SPEAKER

I think not.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that a Lieutenant Phillips, a Coastguard Officer on active duty, who has no connection with the town of Killybegs except that he occupies a post there in connection with his duty as Coastguard for a term of three years, one of which has expired, has been appointed to the seat on the Harbour Board of Killybegs rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. Patrick Martin, Parish Priest of Killybegs, who was appointed as one of the gentlemen specially fitted to represent the local feeling of the district; whether he is aware that the appointment of Mr. Phillips has caused considerable discontent in the district; and, whether, having regard to the strict rule which precludes Naval Officers, while still in the Service, from participation in public matters, he will intimate to Mr. Phillips that his retention of his seat on this Board is not compatible with the discharge of his professional duties?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Square

At the request of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, permission was given by the Admiralty for Lieutenant Griffith Grismond Phillips, Royal Navy, the Divisional Officer of the Coastguard at Killybegs, to act as a Commissioner for the Harbour of Killybegs. I am not aware that the appointment of Lieutenant Phillips has caused considerable discontent in the district. It is not intended to intimate to Lieutenant Phillips that he should vacate his seat on the Board.

MR. MACNEILL

asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that a public meeting had been held to protest against the appointment of Lieutenant Phillips?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY

said he was not aware of that.