§ MR. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a resolution from the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, dated 30th May, 1899, accepting his suggestion relative to the establishment of a Consul- 1102 tative Committee on lighthouse works, and pressing their desire that, on the first vacancy occurring thereon, a representative of the North of Ireland should be co-opted on the Irish Lights Board; and seeing that such a vacancy has since occurred, and been filled by the co-option of a Dublin gentleman, if he will take steps to intimate to the Board of Irish Lights and the Commissioners of Northern Lights (Scotland) the advisability of their meeting the wishes of shipowners who pay the light dues, by the co-option of representative men to vacancies as they occur on those boards.
§ MR. RITCHIEYes, Sir, I have received the communication referred to. I have every reason to hope that advantage will follow from the establishment of the Consultative Committee, but I cannot undertake to interfere with the action of the Irish Lights Commissioners and the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses in regard to a matter which is entirely within their discretion. I may, however, say that if they were to favourably consider the suggestion made by my hon. friend, they would, in my opinion, be acting wisely.