§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Royal Canal is again being neglected; why no meeting of the Board of Control has been convened for two years; and when the next meeting will be held to attend to the business?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere have been no recent complaints that the canal is neglected. The Midland Great Western958W Railway Company is charged with its maintenance, and their engineer furnishes-quarterly reports of work done. The Board of Control do not consider it necessary to meet for the formal duty of passing these reports. The reports are examined by the engineer of the Board of Works, and if there were anything in them requiring formal action on the part of the Board a meeting would be convened. Other business is dealt with by memoranda, which are circulated to the Board.