HC Deb 02 December 1908 vol 197 cc1473-5
MR. MOONEY (Newry)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that, since 1st April last, the steamers of the London and North-Western Railway Company have been using the Carlisle Pier, Kingstown Harbour, without making any payment for the use thereof, while the only other steamers allowed to use this pier are the mail steamers of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, which has to pay a sum of £2,000 per annum for the use of this pier, he will state on what grounds the Treasury charge an Irish company this heavy annual sum for the accommodation provided, while, at the same time, they allow an English Company to use the pier without any payment; and if he can state how long it is intended to discriminate against an Irish company in this manner.

MR. HOBHOUSE

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The amount paid by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company is £182 5s., not £2,000 per annum. The amount to be paid by the London and North-Western Railway Company has not yet been decided, pending a decision on the legal questions which have been raised by the City of Dublin Company.

MR. MOONEY

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that under the contract between the City of Dublin Company and the Postmaster-General, the Postmaster-General stops a sum of £500 per quarter out of the passenger receipts of the Company for the use of this pier, and whether that does not amount to a charge of £2,000 par annum for the use of the pier? Am I to understand that because there is an action between the company and another Department in connection with the interpretation of the contract that is considered a reason for allowing another person to come in and use the pier free of charge?

MR. HOBHOUSE

said the facts were as stated in his reply.

MR. MOONEY

Will the hon. Gentleman' cause a copy of the contract to be placed before him so that he may see whether it is not a fact that £500 per quarter is taken out of the passenger receipts of the company and paid over to the Treasury? Are we to understand that in addition to that there is an annual sum charged by way of rent?

MR. HOBHOUSE

No. I am not aware of that. I understand that 5s. per trip is charged and that this sum averages £182 5s.

MR. MOONEY

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong, and I will put down another Question so that he may see it.