§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, having regard to the Return of the Irish Migratory Agricultural Labourers lately issued, Her Majesty's Government will cause inquiry to be made in the districts of the South of Scotland and North of England, where these people have usually been employed, in order to ascertain whether the recent decrease in their numbers is due to decrease of demand for their services, or decrease of supply; and, if the former, whether the decrease of demand is likely to be permanent or temporary; and, whether it is necessary or desirable artificially to stimulate the emigration of this class of people?
§ MR.TREVELYANAs the Irish Office is the only Department which hitherto has made inquiry into this matter, perhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to answer this Question. The Irish Government has made careful inquiry lately, and is satisfied that the proportion of migratory agricultural labourers from a district is a proof of the poverty of the district and the inability of the holdings, from their small size or other circumstances, to support the people. I do not quite catch the meaning of the last paragraph; but the information obtained has only confirmed the Irish Government in their belief that they are right in assisting people to emigrate who are unable to live in comfort in Ireland. I fancy the Local Government Board is the Department which would have the greatest facility for conducting the inquiry which the hon. Member suggests; but the view of the Irish Government with regard to the duty of assisting emigration could not be altered by anything which that inquiry could produce.
§ In reply to a further Question by Sir GEOBGE CAMPBELL,
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, he would make inquiries of the Local Government Board upon the subject.