HC Deb 08 August 1901 vol 99 cc75-6
MR. GILHOOLY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether when Lord Ardilaun, as trustee to the Bantry estate, purchased the rights of the Crown to portions of the foreshore of Bantry Bay for a sum of £10, inquiries were made as to the value of said foreshore; and, if they were, will he say of whom; and whether competition was invited.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Trustees of the Bantry estate advanced a claim to certain parts of the foreshore of Bantry Bay, and, having regard to the difficulty of proving the Crown title, the Board of Trade were advised to accept an offer of £10 for the rights of the Crown, subject to covenants for preserving the rights of the public. It is not usual in cases of this kind, where the title is disputed, to obtain a valuation, or to offer to sell to anyone other than the owner of the adjacent land.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Did not the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor give an undertaking that in future these sales should not take place without due public notice?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am not aware of that.

MR. GILHOOLY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Crown has assigned its right to the foreshore of Bantry Bay between Bluehill and the public road adjacent to the Abbey burial ground to the receiver on the White estate, and, if so, for what consideration.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No, Sir, the Crown has not alienated any part of the foreshore referred to by the hon. Member to the receiver of the White estate. A portion of that foreshore was included in the sale to the trustees of the Bantry estates, but the larger portion still remains the property of the Crown.

MR. GILHOOLY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Earl of Kenmare claims a right to the rocks, sand, and seaweed on the foreshore of Bantry Bay between Newtown and Gurteenroe, and can he state whether the Crown has transferred its right to the said foreshore to the Earl of Kenmare, and, if so, for what consideration.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No, Sir, I am not aware that the Earl of Kenmare has made any claim with respect to the foreshore of Bantry Bay between Newtown and Gurteenroe. The Crown has not alienated its rights in the foreshore in question.

MR. GILHOOLY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that Lord Ardilaun and his co-trustees of the Bantry estate have sub-let the foreshore of Bantry Bay between Reenmeen East and Newtown, and that gravel is sold and carried off the foreshore, he will consider, in the public interest, the advisability of cancelling the arrangement entered into between the Board of Trade and the said trustees in 1898.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The act of selling and removing gravel from the foreshore would not entitle the Board of Trade to cancel the arrangement made by them with the trustees of the Bantry estate in 1898. The Board of Trade have power, however, to prohibit the removal of materials where necessary for the protection of the coast.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is there no record of the pledge publicly given by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor on the 18th August, 1894, on this subject?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am not aware of it.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Ought not your subordinates to be aware of it?

MR. GILHOOLY

Can we see a copy of the agreement, so as to know what rights are reserved?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No, Sir.