§ MR. CRILLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any communication, at any time, passed between the Government and the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland as to the ability or readiness of the Great Western Railway Company to maintain a line of railway from Ballina to Belmullet in case the line was constructed at Government expense; and, if communications of this kind ever so passed, would he state their nature, and say if the Great Western Company have refused definitely to work such an extension of their existing system if it were constructed and equipped by the Government?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURA railway from Ballina to Belmullet was under consideration in 1890. The communications that took place at that time between the Government and the Midland Great Western Railway Company were personal between the Secretary to the Treasury and the chairman of the company, but in the result, while the railway was constructed between Ballina and it was not continued to Belmullet. No intimation has reached me, either from those locally interested in the construction of a line or from the railway company, that the latter would be prepared to work and maintain a line, even if constructed and equipped out of public funds.
§ MR. CRILLYsaid that, in view of fact that the House of Commons had authorised the construction of this line, and that it had been constructed out of 572 moneys provided by that House, and that it had been handed over to the Midland Great Western Company of Ireland, he should like to ask whether there was no opportunity or chance of discovering what the financial position of the company was in respect of this line?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer.
§ MR. CRILLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that the present line of railway from Ballina to Killala was constructed, a few years ago, out of moneys specially voted by Parliament, and after construction was offered to, and taken over by, the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland; and (2) whether he can inform the House what has been the financial gain or loss to the Railway Company as a consequence of accepting this gift of a free Government extension of their existing railway communication with North Mayo?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Midland Great Western Railway Company offered to construct, work, and maintain in perpetuity the line from Ballina to Killala in consideration of the payment by Government of a capital sum of £44,000. There are no means of ascertaining the information referred to in the second paragraph, as the company do not keep a separate account for this line.