HC Deb 06 December 1906 vol 166 cc1199-200
MR. HALPIN

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state, in connection with the Milan International Exhibition, on what group jury Admiral C. P. Fitzgerald served, and what his qualifications were; if Mr. J. Sebastian Barnett, the other Irish juror, is connected with any trade interests, British or Irish; and why Dr. Yoshioka, the Japanese fishery expert, was permitted to serve as a British juror, considering that British and Irish experts were available; will he say if the names of the merchants and manufacturers in such cities as Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, and industrial centres as Wexford, will be given who were approached by the Commission with a view to their participating at Milan, and if the name of the exhibition agents who were authorised to get a representative Irish exhibit will be given; will he explain why a special Commissioner was not appointed for Ireland to deal with the matter instead of giving the concession for speculative purposes to a private firm, and if a return will be given as to the fees paid to each juror for serving at Milan; whether he will state if the Government, before giving further grants for exhibition purposes, will take steps when Commissions are being organised to see that the science, arts, and industries, and trade interests shall be represented by Commissioners who are competent; whether the rules governing the system of awards will be published after each Commission is organised, and no jurors will be nominated unless they are experts, and endorsed by the industries to which they belong, and that no foreigner will be allowed to represent British or Irish industries as Commissioners or jurors at future exhibitions, and that, for the protection of British and Irish industries, the expenses of jurors shall be provided for by each Commission.

MR. McKENNA

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to circulate the Answer, which is quite as long as the Question, with the Votes,†

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

What about the supplementary Questions we may have on it?

MR. McKENNA

I will read it if the House wishes.

MR. HALPIN

I object to not having it read. The public ought to know the Answer.

[The Answer was not read.]