§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the decline which has recently taken place in the price of Bank of Ireland stock; 30 and whether, having regard to the experience of 1886 and 1893, he will direct the Committee which is now inquiring into the financial aspects of Home Rule to take into consideration the losses which may be expected to accrue from the depreciation of all classes of Irish securities if a Home Rule Bill is introduced?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)My attention has not been previously called to this matter. There is no reason to suppose that any decline in the price of Bank of Ireland Stock of late years is due to other causes than those which have affected the price of similar stocks throughout the United Kingdom, and to make this particular case the subject of question and comment in this House is greatly to be deprecated in the interests of the proprietors and of the Bank. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1893, within one month of the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, securities quoted on the Dublin Stock Exchange fell in value £5,000,000?