§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether h is attention has been called to the correspondence which has passed between Messrs. Harland and Wolff and the Belfast Harbour Commissioners with reference to the failure of the Commissioners to take the necessary steps to provide proper dock accommodation at that port; whether he is aware that Messrs. Harland and Wolff have stated that within the past seven months, owing to the lack of proper dock accommodation, repairs and work have had to be refused by their firm which has resulted in a loss to the city of Belfast of anything from £200,000 'to.£250,000; whether Messrs. Harland and Wolff, in view of the position matters are now in, have offered themselves to erect a dock if the Harbour Commissioners would supply the ground; and whether, in view of this loss to the trade and working 1378 population of the city of Belfast, he will take steps either by remedying the present exclusive franchise system on which the Harbour Commissioners are elected, or by other means, to ensure that so large a sum of money and amount of work will not continue to be diverted from the city of Belfast.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI understand from the Press that Messrs. Harland and Wolff have addressed the Belfast Harbour Commissioners substantially in the terms described in the Question, and that the Commissioners have replied that they are using every possible exertion to expedite the works in question, and that they are prepared to consider any definite proposal on the part of Messrs. Harland and Wolff for ground to build a graving dock themselves. The Commissioners, whose constitution is fixed by Statute, consists of the Lord Mayor of Belfast ex officio and twenty-one members elected by a constituency of shipowners and ratepayers voting by ballot, and the Board of Trade have no power without legislation either to vary that system of election or to compel the Commissioners to take the steps suggested by the hon. Member. I fully recognise the great importance of this matter to the trade and industries of the city of Belfast and I will communicate with I he Harbour Commissioners on the subject.
§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware there is a strong feeling in the North of Ireland in favour of assimilating the Harbour franchise with the Parliamentary franchise. Will he consider that?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI have had no representations to that effect.