HC Deb 16 March 1900 vol 80 cc1073-4
MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Great Western Railway have begun the construction of the line sanctioned by Parliament from Waterford to Rosslare; and, if so, how many men are at present employed on the works.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Great Western Railway Companies have begun the construction of the line sanctioned by Parliament from Cork to Fermoy; and, if not, when it is intended to make a commencement.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. Hanbury,) Preston

I understand that a contract has been made for the construction of twenty-one miles of the line from Waterford to Rosslare, but that the work has not actually been begun. No steps have been taken with regard to the line from Cork to Fermoy, and I gather that priority will probably be given to the other line. The delay is attributable to alterations in the plans, and to the necessity for obtaining fresh Parliamentary powers. The terms of the Treasury Agreement are that when half of the works upon each of the sections—not half the works on the whole line—have been completed, a sum of £50,000 shall be paid to the Fishguard Company, and that when the remaining works have been completed a further sum of £43,000 shall be paid. These undertakings are, in my opinion, contingent upon the fulfilment of the whole bargain described in the agreement in which the completion of both lines within the five years named in the Act is an essential portion, and I consider it very desirable in the public interest that there should be no undue delay.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

May I ask whether it is not now nearly two years ago since this Act was passed, and whether during the session before last the general manager of the Great Western Railway Company, in his evidence before the Hybrid Committee, did not state that, if the Bill there under consideration was passed, the following September—that was last September twelvemonths—would see 50,000 men engaged in the making of the line.

MR. HANBURY

It is a fact that the Bill was passed nearly two years ago, but last year a fresh Bill had to be introduced in consequence of a number of engineering difficulties in the way of the line as it was originally proposed. So far as I am concerned I shall do all in my power to get the line completed.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Of course, the hon. Gentleman knows that the cause for the delay about the Cork portion of the line does not apply to the Rosslare portion. Cannot steps be taken to see that the work is at once begun, because if that is not quickly done it will be impossible to complete it within the five years limit.

MR. HANBURY

I do not think the Treasury has any power to enforce the commencement of the construction of the line by a particular date. What we have power to do is to see that it is completed by such a date.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the date of the contract and the name of the contractor?

MR. HANBURY

The contract for the twenty-one miles was only made about a fortnight ago.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Who is the contractor?

[No answer was given.]