§ MR. M. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will now state the average prices of agricultural produce and cattle in Ireland, as prepared for the Land Commission, for the first three years of the working of the Land Acts of 1881 and 1887, respectively, also for the year 1895?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am in communication with the Land Commissioners as to the precise amount of information which they can give in a Return on this matter, and if the hon. Gentleman will repeat his Question tomorrow, I shall then be in a position to give him an answer.
§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on 5th March sheep were almost unsaleable in Dublin Market, and that some of those sold were bought in October last and sold to-day at less than was paid for them in October and loss of feeding besides, and that bullocks bought in Athy Fair on the previous day were sold in Dublin at £2 per head less than cost price delivered in Dublin; (2) and if, in framing his Land Bill for Ireland, he will remember the low prices that prevail for cattle, sheep, horses, and farm produce?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have called for a report on the first part of this Question, but as I have not yet 439 received it I must ask the hon. Member to repeat his inquiry to-morrow. As regards the second paragraph, the question of agricultural values must no doubt always be an element to be considered in connection with Land Legislation for Ireland.