§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the Upper Bann River, County Down, the fishing season closes every year by order of the Coleraine Board of Conservators on 30th September, while in the other County Down rivers the season is open till 31st October by order of the Dundalk Board of Conservators; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused by the 588 enforcement of the earlier date to the Upper Bann fishermen, and of the refusal of the Coleraine Board of Conservators to accede to the request of the Belfast Anglers' Association to recommend the extension of the time on the Upper Bann, he will arrange for an inquiry to be instituted locally with a view to the extension of the season, or to the transfer of the control from the Coleraine Board to the Dundalk Board.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe facts are correctly stated in the first part of the Question. With respect to the holding of a local inquiry a legal disability exists which the Bill introduced by me last year, but which failed to become law, was intended to remove. The inquiry cannot, therefore, be held until the new Department is empowered by legislation to deal with such questions.
§ MR. MACVEAGHDocs the right hon. Gentleman propose to introduce the Bill?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, if there is any prospect of it passing; but we already have a very heavy legislative programme.