§ 10. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken by the Irish Canal Committee to make the system of inland navigation in Ireland available for agricultural produce and other goods which do not require rapid railway transit; what is the personnel of this Committee and what powers are entrusted to them by Government; how many of its members are independent of Government Departments or of Irish railways, the two chief forces, according to the late Mr. M'Cann, a Member of this House, antagonistic to the natural working of the Irish canals; and is it proposed to augment the number of members of this Committee?
§ The PRESIDENT Of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Albert Stanley)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The canals in Ireland, which are under the control of the Board of Trade, have been placed by the Canal Control Committee under an Irish Subcommittee. The Sub-committee consists of the following members: 2094 Sir George A. Stevenson, K.C.V., C.V.O.
Sir John Purser Griffith, M. Inst. C. E.
Rt. Hon. Jonathan Hogg.
Mr. W. R. Rea.
Rt. Hon. Laurence Waldron
The canals under the control of the Committee are open and available for the carriage of agricultural produce and other goods which do not require rapid railway transport. Three of the five members are not connected, so far as I am aware, with any Government Department or Irish railway. It is not proposed to increase the number of members of the Subcommittee.