§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, with reference to the fact that the opinions of the local authorities in Ireland as to the operation of the Summer Time Act in Ireland were obtained and forwarded to the Committee appointed by the Home Secretary to consider the question of renewing the Act, and that the Committee had also Irish witnesses before them, whether he will say what and how many local bodies furnished those opinions; whether the witnesses were there in a representative capacity or as individuals; if as representatives by whom were they appointed; and if as individuals by whom they were recommended?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Summer Time Committee were furnished with the opinions of eighteen county councils, five county borough councils, eighty urban councils, one hundred and sixty-six rural councils, and twenty-nine county committees of agriculture as to the desirability of the renewal of summer time in Ireland during the present year. The Irish witnesses who appeared before the Committee were invited by the Irish Government to attend as men qualified to state the prevailing views in various parts of the country, both urban and rural, without any inquiry or knowledge as to what opinions they themselves held with regard to the matter.