§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury when will he be in a position to make a statement in reference to the offers for the purchase of the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonI have already published the two tenders, but if the hon. Member has not had an opportunity of seeing them, I shall be glad to supply him with a copy of them.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the tenders of the Great Western and the Fishguard and Rosslare Railway Companies for the purchase of the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway?
§ MR. HANBURYThe lion. Member has already had copies of these. There is no necessity to present them to Parliament, nor I think, would any useful purpose be served by doing so, as they have been given to the Press.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENasked under what head of the Estimates the money required would be voted?
§ MR. HANBURYThere is no necessity for taking a Vote at all.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would take any further steps in the matter?
§ MR. HANBURYNo, Sir, I cannot do more than I have done already.
§ MR. P J. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the ratepayers of the county and city of Waterford full opportunity of considering and pronouncing upon the offers published today of the Fishguard and Rosslare Railway Company and of the Great Western Railway Company for the purchase of the Waterford, Dungarvan, and Lismore Railway before taking any decisive action in the matter?
§ Mr. HANBURYThe ratepayers, will, of course, have the opportunity of forming an opinion upon these tenders as they have been given to the Press. But I cannot delay the decision indefinitely, and the matter must be decided in time for any necessary legislation next year.