§ MR. DAVID SHEEHY (Galway, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he has seen the different resolutions passed by the Board of Guardians of the Galway Union in reference to the omission or inapplicability of the Seed Supply Act to meet the wants or to supply seed potatoes to some 200 or 300 families in Arran Islands; has Major Rutledge Fair made reports upon the condition of these people early in the season, and, if so, what is the purport; has Mr. Clements, Local Government Board Inspector, visited many of these families, and reported to the Local Government Board that these people had no seed, that they had no means to buy them, and that they could get no security from shopkeepers or others to purchase them, that therefore they were precluded from the benefits of the Seed Supply Act; is 26 he aware that the Guardians have repeatedly called the attention of the Local Government Board to this important fact, which prevents the Guardians from giving seed potatoes to these people; is he aware that last week Mr. Guiry, Local Government Board Senior Inspector, reported to the Local Government Board that the Act was totally inapplicable to these families, and suggesting other means of providing them with seed; is he aware that if the lands of these people lie fallow this year they will be in a very serious condition next year; and, seeing that the ratepayers on the island, who are highly valued at some £1,500, must pay taxes and rates to the extent of £500 or £600, and rent up to £2,000, will he state whether the Local Government Board or the Government have any funds at their disposal to enable this large number of families to have their lands sown this season?
§ MR. J. PINKERTON (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention has been directed to a resolution passed by the Galway Board of Guardians, in which they state that, as there are about 200 families in Arran Islands who are unable to procure seed potatoes, and that their lands will be barren next year if not provided with seed now; and call the attention of the Local Government Board to the Report of their Inspector and the several resolutions of the Galway Guardians on the same subject; how many reports have been made by Major Rutledge Fair as to the condition of the people in the villages on the north island of Arran; and, what were the recommendations made by Dr. Clements, who was sent specially to report as to their condition?
MR. JOHN MORLEYThe Galway Guardians have from time to time passed resolutions drawing attention to the alleged inapplicability of the provisions of the Seed Supply Act to the circumstances of the Arran Islanders. Major Rutledge Fair visited the islands early in the season, and reported that the potato crop was satisfactory, and the correctness of this Report has been evidenced by the fact that considerable quantities of potatoes have recently been sold on the islands and exported to the mainland. Dr. Clements also visited the islands last month. He did not, 27 however, report in the terms suggested in the question, though he pointed out to the Guardians that a number of the people were in need of seed, and he requested the Guardians to consider whether they would extend to them the benefits of the Act. The Guardians have been informed by the Local Government Board that security is only necessary in the case of conacre tenants, and the question of the character of the security to be given by such tenants is altogether one for the Guardians. The responsibility for refusing to give seed to the islanders rests, therefore, with the Guardians, who have been offered every facility in the matter by the Local Government Board. I am informed that no such report from Mr. Guiry has been received by the Local Government Board. The Guardians have been informed that if the lands of these people lie uncultivated this year they will be in a very serious condition next year, but the Guardians have stated they could not undertake to supply seed "without the slightest prospect of the loan being repaid." The valuation of the islands is about £1,500, and the poor rate is 4s. 7d. in the £1; but the great majority of the islanders, I am told, pay no poor rates. I regret there are no funds at the disposal of the Government or the Local Government Board out of which to make to the Guardians a free grant for seed.