§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution adopted at a recent meeting of the Cork Butter Exporters' Association, setting forth that the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into and report on the fixing of a standard of water in butter is not fairly representative of the interests of producers or traders; that no representation has been given to the factory owners of the south of Ireland and the Irish salt butter industry, while the creamery interest is strongly represented; and, having regard to the representations which have been made from many quarters on this subject, will he accede to the demand of the Cork Butter Exporters' Association that addition should be made to this Departmental Committee of one or two men who have had practical experience of the working of the butter trade, especially of the salt butter industry and the factory system.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am afraid I cannot usefully add to my reply to the similar question addressed to me yesterday by the hon. Member for East Clare. †
† See page 1125.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Agriculture gave the appointment of the Irish representatives to Mr. Horace Plunkett, who selected—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is proceeding to argue the question.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having a representative of the Irish salt butter industry on the Committee?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe matter was placed in the hands of my right hon. friend Mr. Plunkett, who is far more competent to deal with it than I am. Any representation I could make to him would be of an unofficial character. I can carry the matter no further across the floor of the House.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYWell, I think he has acted in very bad taste.