§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he intends to make inquiries to satisfy himself that the two companies that have tendered for the purchase of the Waterford, Dungarvan, and Lismore Railway are in a financial position to carry out the conditions of 88 their respective tenders in case either should become the purchaser; (2) whether he will satisfy himself as to the truth of the rumour circulated in favour of the Fishguard and Rosslare Company's tender to the effect that the Midland Railway Company of England is financially concerned in the offer of purchase of the Fishguard and Rosslare Company before selling the Government's interest in the concern, and the greater interests of the ratepayers of Waterford, to that firm; and (3) whether he has any objection to say if the Midland Railway Company are parties to the offer for purchase made by the Fishguard and Rosslare Company?
The HON. MEMBER also asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can say if the London and North Western Railway Company are financially concerned in, and are parties to, the offer made by the Fishguard and Rosslare Railway Company for the purchase of the Waterford, Dungarvan, and Lismore Railway?
§ MR. HANBURYOf course, I shall make the inquiries mentioned in the first and second paragraphs. The Midland Railway, so far as I am aware, are not parties to the offer mentioned in the third paragraph. The same answer applies to the hon. Member's Question No. 37, about the London and North Western Railway Co.