§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the present system of making loans to fishermen in that country has operated to exclude from its benefits very many of those most in need of loans; whether a relaxation in the rules regulating the making of loans to fishermen was effected by an Order of the Lords Justices in Council in January last, so as to enable loans for boats and gear to be made on the security alone of the borrowers and the boats; whether this new rule was made without restriction to particular localities; whether it has since been acted on as referring only to the West and North West Coasts of Ireland; and, if so, why, and by virtue of what authority; and, whether the Government will consider the propriety of enabling all fishermen in Ireland to obtain loans on the conditions said to be exacted now in the cases of those on the West and North West Coasts?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I understand that in the case of small loans the difficulty suggested is not experienced. The relaxation of the rules sanctioned in January last permitting large loans for boats, on the security of the vessels, was recommended by the Inspector of Fisheries and agreed to by the Government in the hope of aiding in the development of fisheries by the supply of large boats, particularly on the West and North-West Coasts, where the fishermen most need assistance. The rule was not expressly limited to those parts of the Coast, though it was intended mainly to apply to them. The Lord Lieutenant's consent is required in the case of every loan above £500. I am in expectation of hearing further on this subject from the Inspectors of Fisheries; but I think I may say that I shall be prepared to advise his Excellency to entertain the applications in deserving cases arising in other parts of the country than those mentioned. It is evident, however, that the experiment of dispensing with security other than that of the vessels themselves may be attended with risk of loss to the loan 6 fund; and it must, therefore, be on a strictly limited scale, at all events at first.