HC Deb 01 April 1908 vol 187 cc516-7
MR. JOHN REDMOND

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will cause to be laid upon the Table of the House forthwith all correspondence that has passed on the subject of the use of the Carlisle Pier, Kingstown, by vessels other than the mail steamers, between the Treasury and the Commissioners of Public Works, the Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour, the London and North Western Railway Company, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and any other steamboat company, or any individual or individuals, or Government Department, between 1st January, 1907, and the present date; and whether he will now publish all the correspondence and papers dealing with the agreement come to in 1898 when it was agreed by the Treasury to pay £6,500 per annum for the acceleration of the day mail service, and the correspondence relating to the altered arrangements now——

MR. RUNCIMAN

I will consider what Papers can be laid.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Will the Secretary to the Treasury give his immediate attention to this matter, as it is one of the greatest possible urgency? As a matter of fact, I understand proceedings are taking place to-day which bear upon the dispute regarding the harbour of Kingstown. Cannot the hon. Member give me an Answer at once?

MR. RUNCIMAN

I hope to be able to do so within a day or two. I will lose no time.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Is it not a fact that the Dublin Steam Packet Company have taken proceedings in the Court of Chancery here to restrain the steamers of the London and North-Western Railway Company from going to Carlisle Wharf, and will the Government not see their way, pending the decision in those proceedings which I understand are to be expedited in every way, to suspend their permission for the steamers to go to that wharf, by which permission the issue in the Chancery proceedings is really prejudged?

MR. RUNCIMAN

I shall have to consult my advisers.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Is there not another wharf at Kingstown to which the London and North-Western Railway can go for the next week or ten days before the decision of the Court of Chancery is come to? Do the Government think it fair for the decision of the Court to be prejudged by allowing the steamers to go to this wharf now?

MR. RUNCIMAN

I am sure the hon. Member knows quite well that we do not desire to prejudge the decision of the Court in this matter. I cannot answer on this very complicated question without notice.