§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Lawrence Wilfrid Carder was constituted a bankrupt in 1908; that he has since been concerned in the promotion of certain companies, including the Gweedore Quarry Company, Limited; whether this company was formed by Carder for the purpose of purchasing a business carried on by him under the name of the Belleek Felspar Mining Company; whether he is aware that Carder was managing director of the Irish Industrial Mineral Company before it went into liquidation; can he state the circumstances under which the liquidation of this company was brought about; whether Carder, an undischarged bankrupt, was appointed liquidator, and subsequently allowed to purchase the goodwill and assets of this company; and whether he will cause a special investigation to be made into these transactions in the interests of the shareholders of the latter company?
Mr. BUXTONA receiving order was made against Lawrence Wilfrid Carder on the 13th October, 1908, and he was adjudicated bankrupt on the 19th January, 1909. With reference to his connection with the Gweedore Quarry Company, Limited, the Belleek Felspar Mining Company, Limited, and the Irish Industrial Minerals, Limited, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question of the 16th June. The Irish Industrial Minerals, Limited, went into voluntary liquidation on the 16th December, 1912, an order being made to continue the voluntary liquidation, subject to the supervision of the Court, on the 17th December, 1912, but the Board of Trade have no knowledge of the circumstances under which the liquidation was brought about. Carder was not appointed liquidator, but according to the documents on the file of the company Mr. W. F. Gaff is the liquidator. I have no information that the goodwill and assets of the company have been purchased by Carder, and the Board of Trade have no power to make an investigation into the affairs of a company in voluntary liquidation.