§ MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has now decided upon the form which the proposed inquiry into Irish railways is to take; and whether he has considered the advisability of referring the consideration of the Irish canal system to this body, rather than to the Commission already appointed by the Board of Trade, in order that the question of transit in Ireland may be dealt with as a whole.
MR. BRYCEThe terms of reference to the Commission on Irish railways have already been published and the hon. Member has probably seen them. The question of referring the consideration of the Irish canal system to this Commission was fully considered, and although there might have been some advantages in taking the course suggested in the Question, the balance of arguments was distinctly in favour of allowing the canal inquiry already instituted to proceed, and committing the railway inquiry to a separate specially qualified body.
§ MR. HUGH LAWWill the Railway Commission have an opportunity of considering the whole question in its relation to canals?