§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the proportionate amounts of the war bonus paid by the Government and by the English and Scotch railway companies, respectively; what is the amount of the war bonus paid to Irish railwaymen; and what proportion of it is paid by the Government and by the Irish railway companies, respectively?
Mr. RUNCIMANA sum approximating to one-quarter of the first war bonus granted to railway employés who come within the Railway Conciliation Scheme is excluded from working expenses for the purposes of the agreement between the Government and the English and Scottish railway companies, of whose undertakings possession has been taken by the Government under the Regulation of the Forces Act, 1871, and this amount, therefore, is paid by the railway companies. The amount of the war bonus584W paid to Irish railwaymen varies in the case of the different companies. Possession has not been taken of the undertakings of these companies, and no portion of the cost of the war bonus falls to be paid by the Government.