§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received several resolutions, including one from the Kerry County Council, dealing with the question of Government brand for cured Irish herrings; and whether, seeing that the Government brand on cured herrings is used to great advantage in the English and Scotch fishing districts, and that fishing is one of Ireland's greatest industries, permission will be given to use the Government brand in that country, so as to place the Irish cured herring on the same level with that of England and Scotland.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. Legislation would be necessary in order to authorise a brand for herrings in Ireland, such as exists in Scotland, though not, as is assumed, in England. It is desirable that the matter should be considered by the new Department of Agriculture before the Government can undertake to introduce such legislation.
§ MR. FLAVINWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations with a view to giving equal treatment to Ireland with other portions of the United Kingdom on this important question, or is this to be still another instance of unequal treatment?
§ [No answer was given.]