§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that three men, named O'Connell, Murphy, and Halpin, were recently dismissed from the employment of the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company because of some action alleged to have been taken by them in opposition to the proposed sale of the Waterford and Limerick Railway to the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, a Bill for the completion of which is now before Parliament; whether he is aware that the offence of these men was instigated by the fear which they felt, in common with others, that the proposed amalgamation of these railways would cause the works in Limerick to be closed; and whether the Government propose to take any action to have the men O'Connell, Murphy, and Halpin restored to their employment.
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLAS (for Mr. RITCHIE)The Board of Trade are not in a position to take any action in the matter referred to, but I have received a letter from the chairman of the Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway Company, which I shall be happy to show to the hon. Member.