§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELL (Mayo, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the barony of Kilmaine, county Mayo, has given a perpetual guarantee of six pence in the pound to th Ballinrobe and Claremorris Light Railway; if so, will he say whether the Ballinrobe District Council, within which the barony is situated, is empowered to elect three directors to act on the board of management; and, if not, with whom does the right of election or nomination rest.
1334 (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) No, Sir. The guarantee of the barony of Kilmaine and part of the barony of Carra, under the Ballinrobe and Claremorris Light Railway Order, 1890, is a maximum of 5 per cent. per annum on the paid up capital of the company; but the baronies are recouped by the Treasury to the extent of one-half of the amounts paid under the guarantee, not exceeding a sum equal to interest at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum. The balance of profit over the working expenses is credited to the undertaking before the guarantee is calculated. The Order above referred to provides that the barony of Kilmaine may, by resolution at presentment sessions, elect three directors on the board, which is to consist of not more than seven directors. It appears that there are only four ordinary directors on the board at present. The business of presentment sessions was transferred by the Local Government Act of 1898 to rural district councils. It is open to the councils of the districts in which this guaranteeing area is situated to make application to the Local Government Board for an Order providing for the representation of the guaranteeing area on the board of management of the railway.