HC Deb 14 February 1908 vol 184 cc298-300
MR. DEVLIN (Belfast, N.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolutions of public bodies and to other protests denouncing the proposed purchase of the Cavehill and Whitewell Tramways by the Belfast Corporation; whether he could state the total number of voters on the municipal register for Belfast, and how many voted for and against the proposed purchase in the plebiscite taken on 3rd February, 1908; whether the method of taking the plebiscite was irregular, and voting papers were not collected from a large number of the ratepayers; whether he is aware that the proposed purchase has been denounced by representative ratepayers as a deal between the British Electric Traction Company and a section of the Belfast City Council; and whether, in view of all these circumstances, he proposes to take any steps to prevent the completion of the proposed purchase.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are informed by the town clerk of Belfast that the number of voters on the municipal register is 65,797. The number of voting papers collected and returned in connection with the plebiscite referred to was 54,810. Of these 24,733 were in favour of the proposed purchase, 12,575 were against it, 12,265 were unmarked, and 5,237 were incorrectly filled up. The plebiscite was taken in the manner prescribed by The Borough Funds (Ireland) Act, 1888. The voting papers were distributed and collected by the constabulary. The difference in the numbers distributed and collected is accounted for by the facts that many of the voting papers had been mislaid or destroyed, or that the constabulary could not obtain admission to the houses when they called to take up the papers. As regards the remainder of the Question,

Counties. Head Constables. Sergeants and Constables.
Cavan — 3
Clare 1 56
Cork — 4
Galway 1 235
King's — 24
Leitrim — 19
Longford — 21
Meath — 51
Roscommon 2 95
Westmeath — 35
Totals 4 543

The charges to be made against the counties for such extra forces are at the rate of £43 6s. per annum for each head constable, and at the rate of £34 9s. 3d. for each sergeant or constable. The total charge against counties in respect of the extra force now serving is therefore at the rate of £18,886 6s. 9d. per annum.

I do not think that I can usefully add anything to my Answer of the 7th February. The matters referred to would be for the consideration of the Parliamentary Committee before whom the Bill may come, and I do not propose to take any steps in anticipation of the decision of the Committee.