§ MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed at an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Cavehill and White well Tramways Company, held at Belfast on 19th June, confirming an agreement, dated 1st May, 1907, between the company and the corporation of Belfast for the purchase by the latter of the company's tramways and their equipment, exclusive of rolling stock, together with thirty-two acres of land and a car shed, for the sum of £60,000, subject to Parliamentary sanction of the agreement; and whether, seeing that the property in question is practically valueless, and in view of local opposition to its acquisition, he will use his influence to prevent the sanction of Parliament being given to the scheme.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that a resolution to the effect stated has appeared in the newspapers, but the Local Government Board have not yet received a report of the company's meeting at which the resolution is stated to have been passed. It would be quite unprecedented for a Minister to give a decision hostile to a private Bill which he has not yet seen. If a Bill should be introduced, Parliament will have full opportunity for considering it.