§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received further information regarding the unsafe and dangerous condition of the Belfast wharves; and if he can now see his way to address a remonstrance to the Harbour Commissioners on the subject.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURFurther information has been furnished to me by the hon. Member relative to deaths from drowning in the docks at Belfast, which have occurred since I replied to questions previously put to me on the same subject last year. With regard to the second paragraph, the Government have already been in communication with the Harbour Commissioners of Belfast as to the alleged unprotected state of the docks, and have been informed by the Commissioners that they have, in all places, erected protection railings a walls where they considered such could be done without materially obstructing the trade and traffic of the port. The docks and quays in the harbour have, I am assured, been constructed by the Commissioners in strict accordance with Parliamentary authority, and if that is so, they are not liable, in the absence of negligent user, for any accidents that may occur.