§ MR. BOLANDI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, in preparing statistics for the trade of 1906, he will give instructions with a view to securing that the trade between Ireland and Great Britain be set out separately.
§ MR. BONAR LAWThe Customs have no means of obtaining complete statistics of the trade between Ireland and Great Britain, there being no power to require the necessary particulars to be supplied. I understand that the question of compiling such information on the subject as can be obtained is at present engaging the attention of the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction.
§ MR. LOUGHIs there any objection to acquiring the necessary legal authority?
[The Answer was inaudible.]
§ MR. JOYCEDoes not the Board of Trade get the information from the harbour authorities in Ireland?
§ MR. BONAR LAWI understand that is the source from which the Irish Board of Agriculture get the information.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINWhy distinguish between the trade of Ireland with foreign countries and that with Great Britain? Why cannot you get those returns?
§ MR. BONAR LAWThe Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs the other day said the information was not available so far as foreign Powers was concerned.
§ MR. FLAVINIf the Irish Board of Agriculture has the right to demand the information from the Irish harbour authorities why does not the Board of Trade do it?
§ MR. BONAR LAWWe have not the power.
§ MR. FLAVINYes, you have.
§ MR. JOYCEI am a member of a harbour authority and know that our clerk has to supply the information.
§ MR. MACVEAGHOh, what do they know about Ireland?