§ MAJOR NOLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If the Local Go- 803 vernment Board have received information as to the amount of seed which the guardians of the scheduled unions propose to sell to each occupier of land; if the Local Government Board are satisfied that all the scheduled unions are prepared to grant a sufficient supply of seed to fulfil the purpose of the Seed Act and to enable all occupiers under £15 a-year to sow a sufficient breadth of land; and, if the Local Government Board are not satisfied with the maximum limits which the guardians have in some unions placed on the issue of seed, do the Local Government Board intend to take steps to extend those limits?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, the Local Government Board has no desire to needlessly interfere with the Guardians in the exercise of their duties. In some cases, however, complaints have been made to the Board that the supply of seed was not adequate, and in those instances inquiry will be made. The general principle, however, acted upon is that on the Guardians will fall the responsibility of carrying out the Act. I understand that 140 Unions have expressed their willingness to put the Act into operation.