HC Deb 23 February 1903 vol 118 cc510-1
MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the desire in Ireland that the International Automobile Race should be run in that country, and considering that the local councils through whose districts the cars will speed are prepared to take every precaution for the safety of life, he will introduce a Bill to enable the competitors to hold the race in Ireland.

COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this Question, may I ask is His Majesty's Government aware that this is a rare occasion on which the whole of the Irish people are at one? Taking this fact into consideration, will His Majesty's Government give a favourable reply to the Question? (Laughter.)

MR. WYNDHAM

I agree that my hon. and gallant friend is to-day speak- ing for the whole of Ireland. I understand that a Bill has been drafted by the hon. Member for the New Forest Division of Hants. In view of the unanimous desire of all the local bodies representing districts through which the proposed course would run, and also, I believe, of all hon. Members of Irish constituencies, I venture to express the hope that such a Bill would pass as an unopposed measure.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny.)

Will the Government make the Bill their own, and thus secure for it the advantages of such a measure?

MR. WYNDHAM

I do not like to contemplate the possibility of other hon. Members opposing this measure when it is brought forward unanimously on the part of Ireland. I hope it will pass by consent.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

But there are other Bills in front of it.

MR. WYNDHAM

Still, I hope it will pass by consent. No one can be opposed to it.