§ MR. HAYDEN (Leitrim, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu- 460 tenant of Ireland, On what principle the thoroughbred sires, winners of the prizes to be voted by this House, have been, or are to be, distributed through the country; whether regard will be had to the fact that, from various circumstances, no thoroughbred sires are kept in a county by private individuals; whether he is aware that in the County of Leitrim there is much need for the improvement of the breed of horses, owing to the fact that generally there are no good sires in the county; and, whether, if such an arrangement has not been already made, steps will be taken to have one of the prize winners placed at the disposal of the tenant farmers of Leitrim, without having such a distance to travel into other counties (already well provided in this respect) as to render the advantage of very little value?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) () (who replied) Isle of Thanetsaid: Details of this character have been properly left in the hands of the Royal Dublin Society, who will administer the Vote, and who, it cannot be doubted, have endeavoured to make the best possible arrangements for the general benefit and convenience. The society has published a programme which shows that the County of Leitrim forms part of two districts, of one of which Ballymote, in the adjoining County of Sligo, is the headquarters, and Longford the headquarters of the other.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked, if there was any objection to lay the Report on this subject on the Table of the House?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he thought there would be no objection.
§ MR. HAYDENasked, was the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that neither Ballymote nor Longford was sufficiently near for Leitrim?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he he had only just seen the programme himself; but he must say that the distance did not appear to him to be conveniently arranged. He had that afternoon written to the Secretary of the Royal Dublin Society for further information regarding the Local Committees and other subjects; and he hoped to be able to give the House that further information before very long.
§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)asked, if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman would 461 furnish the House with the names of the members of the Local Committees?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANreplied, that he had just stated that he had written to the Secretary of the Royal Dublin Society for any information which that gentleman could give him on the question of Local Committees; and when he had received it he would be happy to communicate it to the House.