§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, is he aware that, the new President of the Irish Board of Works, who was previously manager of the Irish Great Northern Railway, is announced as a witness against the Central Ireland Railway Bill recently passed by this House, and now before the Lords Committee; whether this announcement was made before Mr. Robertson left the Great Northern Company; and if the consent of the Treasury had been asked to his appearance as a witness against the Central Ireland Railway Bill?
§ MR. HANBURYI have no knowledge whether Mr. Robertson's name is announced as a witness against the Central Ireland Railway Bill, and I have not had sufficient time to communicate with him on the subject. Mr. Robertson has, I understand, not yet left the service of the Great Northern Railway Company, and the appointment of Chairman of the Board of Works is not vacant till March 22nd; so there has, as yet, been no need to obtain the Treasury's consent to his appearing as witness. After he has taken up his duties as Chairman of the Board of Works his position in this respect will, of course, be altered.
§ MR. HANBURYCertainly; after the 22nd March, or whenever he takes up his appointment, he will have to get the leave of the Treasury.
§ MR. KNOXI will ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider whether, having regard to the fact that Mr. Robertson will, at no distant date, have to take over the control of a department 1024 which may be concerned in the administration of this new railway, it is not undesirable that he should put himself in the position of opposing this Bill.
§ MR. HANBURYAs long as he is a servant of the Great Northern Railway Company, they have a right to employ him as a witness; but after he has entered upon the duties of Chairman of the Irish Board of Works, he ought not to give evidence without the permission of the Treasury; and that permission will not be given except for some very good reason.