asked the President if any representations have been made to him on behalf of shareholders in the Wolfhill Colliery Co., Ltd. (in liquidation), and if the Government proposes to take any action in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LIQUIDATION OF WOLFHILL COLLIERY CO., LTD.
Certain informal representations were made to me a year ago in the interests of the shareholders of the Wolfhill Colliery Co., Ltd. (in liquidation). It would appear that the call upon shareholders who were liable for calls in arrear was made pursuant to an Order of Court dated 17th October, 1927, and consequently the matter was not one in which the Government could intervene.
The President is aware that when this company was started persons who subscribed for shares in it did so very largely not for investment purposes but to help what they thought would be a useful Irish industry, and in many cases they are proceeded against and in some cases their goods seized for the balance of the shares due by them? Does the President know that in many other cases the shares were subscribed for by branches of the Sinn Fein Organisation but held in the names of particular individuals and these particular individuals are now proceeded against for the moneys due; and in view of the fact that grave hardship is being caused by that in special circumstances, would it not be possible to devise some means by which that hardship would be mitigated and some relief brought to the individuals in question?
I am not aware of the fact that certain branches of the Sinn Fein Organisation subscribed for these shares in the names of certain of their members, but if the Deputy says so I accept it as a fact. But this is simply on a par with any other public company in respect of which shares would be sold for a useful industrial concern of any sort or kind, and I do not see that it would be possible or politic to interfere in one case in the interests of shareholders and not in all.