Under these circumstances, Mr. Balfour thought that it would be
unwise either to attempt to set on foot great industries, or to devote more at present to technical training. He did hope to do a good deal to facilitate railway communi- cation in Ireland, and to stimulate the fisheries, but he thought that he must postpone both these undertakings till next Session. Still, he hoped to carry this Session three Bills for improving the arterial drainage of Ireland, which are to be founded on the principle that the benefited area is not to have any charge put upon it in excess of the benefit that it would receive, and that the uplands which do indirectly receive benefit from the drainage, though only indirectly, should never be charged more than one penny in the pound,—the Government undertaking to provide the rest, though charging a rate of interest (44 per cent.) which would yield a sinking fund of 11 per cent. for paying off the loan. This being the principle, the Government would have to advance most where the immediate benefit secured would be least, and where the penny in the pound charged to the uplands would yield the least. In the plan for the drainage of the Barrow, —the river flowing south into Waterford Harbour,—the improved area was to be charged with 2125,000, while the catchment area was to be charged with £20,000, leaving to the Government £215,000 to provide. As regards the Bann (the river flowing north to the mouth of Lough Foyle), the improved area would be charged with £8,000, the catch- ment area with £37,000, and the Government will grant £20,000. In the case of the Shannon, the improved area will be charged with £35,000, the catchment area with £65,000, and the Government will grant £65,000. In other words, the total sums raised in Ireland for the three drainage schemes will be £145,000 for the Barrow, phis 245,000 for the Bann, plus £100,000 for the Shannon, or £290,000 in all ; against a Govern- ment grant of £215,000, plus 220,000, plus £65,000, or 2300,000 in all.
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