§ MR. J. ROUND (Essex, Harwich)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is making any inquiry into the disastrous effects of the recent severe hailstorm in the county of Essex; and, if he sent down a Government inspector to report upon damage sustained by agriculturists?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyYes, Sir. I have instructed an inspector to at once visit the district affected by the disastrous storm of last Thursday, and to make a report to me as to the character and extent of the damage done. But I may say that from what I myself saw in the course of a tour of inspection which I thought it my duty to make yesterday there can be no doubt as to the grievous nature of the calamity which has befallen agriculturists in the parts of the County visited by the storm, which was of a most exceptional character, and it is clear that much distress and loss of employment will arise which will urgently call for relief.
MR. D. CHILLY (Mayo, N.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman will he take into consideration, in conjunction with the Chief Secretary for Ireland, when he is extending relief to Essex, the advisability of extending relief to the starving people of Belmullet?
§ [No answer was given.]