HC Deb 28 February 1901 vol 90 cc63-4
MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say why it is that the Royal Dublin Society, in awarding premiums for stallions on the register of the Agricultural and Technical Department, give twenty-five prizes of £100 for thoroughbred stallions, while agricultural stallions get only three premiums of £50 each; whether he will request the Royal Dublin Society to give a larger number of premiums in the case of agricultural stallions, considering that Ireland is an agricultural country.

MR. WYNDHAM

The twenty-five premiums of £100 each offered at the recent Stallion Show at Balls Bridge will be paid out of the fund payable annually to the Royal Dublin Society under the Probate Duties Act of 1888. They absorb one-half of the fund; the other half is alloted to bull premiums. The three premiums of £50 each for Agricultural Stallions are not paid out of public money; they will be paid out of the private funds of the Royal Dublin Society.

MR. DALY

But cannot the number be increased, seeing that Ireland is so suitable a country for horse-breeding?

MR. WYNDHAM.

That question raises the policy of the Agricultural Department, which I am not prepared to discuss now. As the hon. Member is aware, horse-breeding is a very important business in Ireland.

MR. DALY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, under the new horse-breeding scheme in con- nection with the Department of Agriculture, no sire has been allotted to County Monaghan, while two sires are given to County Cavan; and if he will direct that one sire at least be placed at the disposal of the farmers of County Monaghan.

MR. WYNDHAM

This question refers, I am informed, not to the horse-breeding scheme of the Department of Agriculture, but to that of the Royal Dublin Society. I understand that only one stallion was entered from the County Monaghan, but that it was withdrawn by the exhibitor. One stallion is allotted to County Cavan, which will be available for Monaghan, as will also a stallion at Oldcastle, in Meath.

MR. DALY

Cannot you give us a stallion for County Monaghan? You place two in County Cavan?

MR. WYNDHAM

That rests with the Royal Dublin Society.