HC Deb 04 July 1904 vol 137 cc472-3
MR. MUEPHY (Kerry, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Department of Agriculture have taken any, and what, steps to promote winter dairying in Ireland; and what has been the result of the operations.

MR. WYNDHAM

The encouragement of winter dairying, wherever such is practicable, is part of the duty of the itinerant instructors in agriculture, of whom there are now eighteen at work. No statistics are available to show to what extent farmers have adopted the suggestions of these experts; but the subject will form part of the discussion at the Annual Conference of Itinerant Inspectors.

MR. MURPHY

Has not a complaint been received from the Cork School that nothing has been done in this respect?

MR. WYNDHAM

There is no mention of any complaint in the Question. As I have said, there are eighteen inspectors now on this work.

MR. MURPHY

But they are doing nothing.

MR. KILBRIDE

Have not the inspectors pointed out that capital is necessary to enable them to carry out the work?

MR. WYNDHAM

I must ask for notice of that Question.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork County, E.)

And is it not the fact that the creamery system in Ireland is proving a discouragement to dairy farming in that country?

[No Answer was returned.]