§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether on the Departmental Committee recently appointed by him to consider matters relating to railway agreements and amalgamation there is any representative of the Irish railway employés and Irish traders; is it intended to examine witnesses from Ireland; and will the Irish interests mentioned have his consideration?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Churchill)The Departmental Committee, as I have already stated, is intended to be authoritative rather than representative, but, apart from this, a Vice-Regal Commission is now sitting to inquire into the present working of Irish railways and by what methods it can be improved. In view of these circumstances, special representation of Irish interests on the Departmental Committee would hardly seem necessary, but they will not be precluded by their terms of reference from taking evidence with regard to Ireland should they so desire on any particular point.