He had to be wheeled from Committee Room
to Committee Room in a perambulating chair, and was allowed to remain
seated when addressing Committees. On the 12th of July Lord Spencer
announced that "the Great Southern Amalgamation Bill may proceed subject
to clauses as to running powers, etc." This meant that _our_ Bill was
gone, and that the Great Southern had gained possession of the Waterford
and Limerick, Ennis, the line to Collooney and running powers to Sligo.
Thus they had secured a monopoly in Munster and an effective competition
with us in poor Connaught. It was hard lines for the Midland, but all
was not yet lost. If only we could obtain running powers to Limerick and
carry them back to Ireland, we should have secured some of the spoil.
Another week was spent fighting over running powers, facilities, etc.,
and I was in the witness box again. Balfour Browne and Littler now
conducted the warfare on either side, and keenly they fought. The
Committee at one time seemed disposed to put us off with little or
nothing. In the box I know I waxed warm--"the Great Southern to get all
and we nothing--iniquitous," and then, "the public interest to count for
nought--Oh, monstrous!" Well, in the end, on the 19th of July, we were
awarded full running powers to Limerick, and--the curtain fell!
The Act came into operation on the 2nd of January, 1901, the 1st being a
Sunday.
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