§ Mr. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the meeting of the council of the Irish Butter Trade Association at which the relationship of the Irish Department of Agriculture with the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society was discussed; will he say if the Department subsidised the society to the extent of £5,700 within the past two years; and whether, in view of the complaints of this trade society against the subsidising of an organisation which is in direct competition with private traders in the Irish butter trade, more especially in regard to the creameries industry, the Department will decline to subsidise the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society in future by withholding further financial assistance.
MR. BRYCEI have seen a newspaper report of the recent proceedings of the council of the Irish Butter Trade Association. The purposes of organisation for which grants in aid of a sum of £2,000 for the year ended February 28th last, and of a sum not exceeding £3,700 for the year ending 28th February next, were made by the Department of Agriculture, with the concurrence of the 1054 Agricultural Board, have already been explained in my answers to the questions of the hon. Member for East Mayo on May 21st and 29th.† The question of the continuance of the existing provisional arrangement for any period subsequent to the twelve months ending February 28th next, was discussed at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture in May last, and was postponed for further consideration to their next meeting, which will be held in the autumn of the present year. The result of the further deliberations of the Council will be a guide to the Agricultural Board and the Department as regards future action in the matter.
§ MR. FLYNNI ask the right hon. Gentleman is he himself aware that this Irish Agricultural Organisation Society is in direct competition with private traders in the Irish butter trade.
MR. BRYCEI think if the hon. Member will refer to what I said to the hon. Member for East Mayo on May 21st and 29th he will find that I have answered that.