§ MR. P. McDERMOTT (Kilkenny, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that potato disease has broken out in Ireland; and, if he will take steps to prevent its spread by making a grant to provide those persons who have not the means to spray their crops with a solution which has been proved to be effectual for this purpose, while there is yet time?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that the potato disease has appeared, sporadically and only to a very slight extent, in some districts. So far, it appears to be confined to the early potatoes, and the main crop is still sound and in a flourishing condition, and, I should hope, is now beyond the risk of serious injury by disease. Under the circumstances there appears to be no necessity for the Government to move in the matter, apart from the fact that the period during which the spraying would be effective is almost over. I may add that the use of spraying material is now pretty well known in Ireland in consequence of the experiments undertaken by the Land Commission and by the Congested Districts Board; and it is open to serious question whether it would be wise for Government to defray the cost of supplying spraying material instead of leaving it to the occupiers themselves to pay for it.