§ DR. AMBROSEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the number of emigrants from Ireland, special trains having to be provided to convey the emigrants to Queenstown; can he give any reason for such increase; and will he see that a Commissioner is appointed with a, view to finding out the cause of such emigration.
§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any reason to think that these people are leaving Ireland through the tyranny of the United Irish League?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am not prepared to speculate on such points. There was a decrease of 579 in the number of emigrants during the first quarter of this year as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1901. No later figures are available. No useful object would, I think, be served by appointing a Commission.
§ DR. AMBROSEHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been directed to the large numbers of emigrants very recently carried in special trains to Queenstown?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have seen the paragraph which is no doubt the origin of the Question, but I have given the official figures.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork Co., N.)Is it not the fact that, although the figures show a falling off the percentage is higher in view of the decrease of population?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The Question has been answered.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhy don't you "proclaim" emigration?