§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will propose to extend the time for repayment of seed supply advances to Irish Boards of Guardians; and whether, in view of the accumulated evidence of a disastrous failure of the potato crops in many parts of Ireland, and the warnings given by Boards of Guardians and other public bodies that the consequent diminution of the food supply and contraction of the labour market must lead to widespread destitution, the Government will act upon the suggestions generally made by instituting public works and granting loans to occupiers on easy terms for the improvement of their holdings in the districts severely affected.
MR. J. MORLEYThe Bill dealing with the supply of seed potatoes 217 to occupiers and cultivators of land in Ireland will provide that loans to be made to Boards of Guardians shall be repayable without interest, to the Board of Works by two equal instalments, the first of which shall be paid on the 1st of August, 1896, and the second instalment on the 1st of August, 1897. Experience proves that the longer the time allowed for the repayment of these loans the greater difficulty of collection, and upon the information at present before me I am inclined to think it would be inexpedient to extend the time for repayment as suggested. With regard to the second paragraph, I cannot, within the compass of a reply to a question, conveniently explain the special steps that were taken by me to ascertain the extent of the failure of the potato crop in Ireland, or outline the scheme of relief which has been adopted by the Government for dealing with the distress in various parts of the country. An opportunity for going fully into the matter will very shortly present itself, and, meantime, I can assure my hon. Friend that every step was taken—and in good time—that experience showed to be necessary for gauging the situation and dealing with the destitution caused by the potato failure. I may add that on the 28th of January relief works were opened in the Ballinrobe Union, County Mayo; on the 1st of February in Boffin Island; and on Monday last in various electoral divisions of the Clifden and Outerarde Unions, County Galway.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI beg to move that to-morrow the Introduction of Bills have precedence of the Order of the Day.
§ The Motion was agreed to.