§ MR. J. ROSSI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is he aware that seed potatoes are imported in large quantities from Ireland to Malta every Autumn; has he been informed thatt he Governor of Malta prohibited the lauding of the Irish cargoes in November last on the allegation that the potatoes were diseased, and that it has since been ascertained that the rejected cargoes were free from disease; whether he is aware that the Maltese farmers have in consequence, been obliged to purchase inferior Austrian seed potatoes; and, what steps he proposes taking to prevent interference with the Irish export potato trade in future.
MR. J. MORLEYIt is a fact that restrictions were placed on the importation of seed potatoes into Malta last autumn. Large quantities of seed potatoes are stated to have been consigned to Malta from Ireland in past years, but the restrictions recently enforced by the Government of Malta applied to all such seed imported from the United Kingdom. The consignments were examined upon arrival in Malta last Autumn by a Commission appointed 839 by the Governor, and a large quantity was rejected as being unfit for use as seed, whilst a number of bags were admitted. I am aware that disagreement has been expressed with the conclusions at which the Commission arrived with regard to the rejected seed. I have been in correspondence on the subject with the Colonial Office, and have been furnished by the Secretary of State with a report made last month by the Governor of Malta, in which he stated he had been advised that the season for the importation of seed potatoes was then too far advanced, and that it would not be practically useful to reconsider the question until the approach of the new season, and until the result of the restrictions enforced this season have been studied.
§ MR. J. ROSSWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent the Irish trade being interfered with in future?
MR. J. MORLEYI can take no steps beyond those which I have already taken; everything has been done that could be done upon this point.
§ MR. ROSSCan the right hon. Gentleman see his way to allowing the Irish Land Commission, or some other body, to examine these returns in order to find out if the returns of these potatoes are bona fide, or not?