§ Mr. CLANCYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the case of a young girl named Elizabeth Johnston, who was burnt to death while travelling on the top of a tramcar in Dublin in July last; whether at the inquest, while no direct evidence was given as to the cause of the burning, two theories were suggested, namely, one that it was caused by an electric spark from the trolley, the other that it was caused by someone smoking and throwing away a lighted cigarette; whether he is aware that the relatives of the unfortunate girl are anxious for a 2097 sworn inquiry as to the origin of the accident, and that many other persons share that desire; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will, in the public interest, direct an inquiry to be held into the question at issue, in regard to which the coroner's jury returned an open verdict?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhen a report of this accident was received the question of holding an inquiry was considered, but the Board of Trade were advised that there was no reason to suppose that the accident could have been due to any electrical defect. In these circumstances an inquiry by the Board of Trade in addition to that held by the coroner did not appear to be necessary.