§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the facts that a sum of £927,009 received by the London companies from the sale of Irish estates has already been diverted from Irish purposes, and that two sums of £191,709 and of £88,918 are in danger of a like fate, he will consent to the appointment of a small Select Committee to inquire and consider what legislation or other action if any, should be taken in these matters.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce). It was, I understand, decided by the Master of the 889 Rolls in Ireland in 1898, that the Irish estates of the London companies were not subject to trusts for local public purposes, as was contended, but that the position of the companies in regard to these estates was the same as if they had been private individuals and not bodies corporate. This decision was subsequently confirmed by the Court of Appeal in Ireland. In these circumstances, I doubt whether any such result as the hon. Member seems to desire would be attained by the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the matter as suggested.