§ Ordered, That the Great Southern and Western, and Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway Companies Amalgamation Bill, and the Great Southern and Western Railway Bill be committed to a Select Committee of Nine Members, Five to be nominated by the House, and Four by the Committee of Selection.
§ Ordered, That, subject to the Rules, Orders, and Proceedings of this House, all Petitions against the Bills be referred to the Committee, except in the case of the County Councils, under the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, and that all such Petitions of the said County Councils shall not be subject to the Rules, Orders, and Proceedings of this House, but may 763 be presented seven clear days before the meeting of the Committee, and shall be referred to the Committee, and that such of the Petitioners as pray to be heard by themselves, their Counsel, Agent, or Witnesses be heard on their Petitions against the Bills, if they think fit, and Counsel heard in support of the Bills against such Petitions.
§ Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records.
§ Ordered, That Five be the quorum.
§ Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they do inquire and report whether the adoption of any or all of the proposals contained in the Bills would, without adequate compensating advantages, prevent or prejudice adequate competition in the railway system of the South and West of Ireland, or in the system of communication between that country and England and Wales.—(Mr. Gerald Balfour.)