HC Deb 15 August 1901 vol 99 cc944-5
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can explain why the undertaking given by his predecessor in the late Ministry that the Crown would not alienate foreshores without public advertisement has been departed from in the case of the Bantry estate, and whether, as the conveyance was only made in 1898, and would have to be produced in court in the case of any action for trespass, he could see his way to lay it upon the Table or permit its inspection.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

As far as I am aware, no pledge given by my predecessor in the late Ministry has been broken. It is the practice of the Board of Trade to advertise in cases of open sale or lease of foreshore for works public or private. The conveyance to the Bantry trustees was not of this description. It was merely a conveyance to quiet the title of the parties subject to preservation of public rights. The Bantry trustees held a good adverse title to the Crown. I am informed that the deed which has been enrolled in Ireland is open to inspection on the usual terms.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that a couple of years before the Crown sold the Bantry foreshore to Mr. Leigh White they replied to an application for permission to build a sandquay by Mr. John McCarthy that no further grant of foreshore would be given for private purposes in Bantry; whether this correspondence and that with Mr. White can be published, and can he state what is the explanation of the change in the Board's policy.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Board of Trade are unable to trace any record of the sale by them of foreshore to Mr. Leigh White. An application was made in 1896 by Mr. John McCarthy for permission to construct a quay in Bantry Creek, but was refused on the ground that no further encroachments on the creek could be permitted unless undertaken for public purposes. I shall be happy to show the hon. and learned Gentleman a copy of the correspondence with Mr. McCarthy.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Then who was it sold to? Was it to Lord Ardilaun, who is only a trustee of the estate?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I must ask for notice of that.