HC Deb 09 May 1892 vol 4 cc346-7
MR. MCCARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the subsidy of £5,000 voted towards the improvement in the breed of horses in Ireland, whether he will state how much of it has been so applied, and what has been done with the balance, if any; whether he is aware that there is no person from the Division of South Down on the Committee appointed under the scheme for the County of Down, and that none of the four registered stallions selected for the county ever visit any place within the district of South Down; and whether, in view of the fact that the population of South Down is chiefly made up of small farmers who stand in need of such facilities as are offered under this scheme, steps will be taken to give this division of the county the benefit of the scheme?

*MR. JACKSON

The hon. Member does not specify any particular year; but I presume he desires to know how the annual grant of £5,000 for improving the breed of horses and cattle in Ireland is allotted?

MR. MCCARTAN

This year.

*MR. JACKSON

I cannot give the figures for this year, because the expenditure is not yet completed, but I find by the published accounts of the Royal Dublin Society, that their expenditure in this regard during their last completed year, ended 31st December, 1891, was as follows:—By amount paid to owners of horses, service premiums, fees, &c., £3,290 5s.; by expenses of local committees, £119 17s. 2d.; by service premiums for bulls, £1,201 18s.; by prizes for mares at local inspections, £955; by purchase of pony stallion, £150; by Stallion Show, Dublin, £198 6s. 5d.; by auditor's fee, £2 2s.; by balance in bank, £492 1s.3d.; total, £6,409 9s. 10d. The reply to the second paragraph appears to be in the affirmative. It is stated that the benefits of the scheme were offered equally to all parts of the country; but no stallions were tendered for registration for service in South Down; accordingly there is no registered stallion in that district.

MR. MCCARTAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that there is no representative from South Down on the Committee?

MR. JACKSON

I presume that the Committee is appointed by the Royal Dublin Society.

MR. MCCARTAN

They appointed no person from South Down.

MR. W. ABRAHAM, on behalf of Mr. M'DERMOTT (Kilkenny, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that last year the sum of £960 was given in prizes to brood mares in 16 districts in Ireland; and whether the Royal Dublin Society have discontinued the grant this season; and, if so, for what reasons?

*MR. JACKSON

I am informed that the sum of £955 was given in prizes in Ireland for farmers' brood mares in 1891. The Royal Dublin Society have discontinued these prizes this year, and given the money instead to farmers in part payment of the fees for the service of thoroughbred registered stallions. It is believed that the expenditure of the money in this way will confer greater benefits upon the farmers.