MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant 125 of Ireland, If the Irish Government have taken any steps to notify to the tenant farmers of Ireland the facilities for borrowing money for the improvement of their lands given by the Land Act of last year, and the new Rule of the Treasury lowering the minimum amount that may be borrowed to £50, and the minimum valuation of the borrower to £10?
§ MR. COURTNEY (for Mr. TREVELYAN)The suggestion of my hon. and learned Friend has been anticipated. A formal notice of the changes has been sent to the Dublin papers, together with advance copies of the amended instructions to borrowers; and a supply of the latter is being procured as speedily as possible. Moreover, special notice has been sent to applicants who had been refused prior to the change, owing to the operation of the £100 rule. I hope the country newspapers and any societies that take an interest in the farming class of Ireland will assist in disseminating this information.
MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked whether arrangements would not be made to facilitate collective applications; and if that were done, would not the Treasury be able to advance loans at a less cost than to individual tenants?
§ MR. COURTNEYI will look into the matter.