§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the approximate number of men displaced by the recent railway dispute in Ireland is as follows:—Tralee, 12; Belfast, 76; Dundalk, 61; Amiens Street, Dublin, 72; North Wall, Dublin, 16; Broadstone, Dublin, 31; Kingsbridge, Dublin, 52; Sallins, 9; Limerick, 22; Limerick Junction, 4; Kilkenny, 1; Maryborough, 5; Rosslare, 13; Mallow, 6; Waterford, 13; Kilmallock, 2; Portarlington, 1; Rathduff, 2; Kildare, 2; Cork, 13; total, 413; whether the railway directors undertook, as the basis of the settlement of the dispute, that 90 per cent. of the men should be taken back at once and the remainder 555W as soon as possible; whether he is aware that distress prevails in the families of the men who have not been taken back; whether he is aware that the men not taken back forfeit the whole of their contributions to the companies' sick and benefit funds, into which some of them have been paying for twenty-nine years; and whether, seeing that public opinion in Ireland is in favour of the reinstatement of these men, and in view of all the circumstances and pending a general settlement of the whole question, the Board of Trade will exercise its influence to bring about an immediate reinstatement of these men.
Mr. BUXTONI am not aware whether the facts are as stated, and I fear I cannot intervene in the matter.