MR MACVEIGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Andrew Gallon, of Laught, Killygordon, East Donegal, was, by the Board of Public Works, refused a loan of £40 to improve his farm, whilst the adjoining farmers obtained a similar loan on application; whether he is aware that Gallon satisfied the Board that there was no encumbrance on the holding; that the secretary made a demand for 10s., an unusual thing, which Gallen sent him; that an inspector came down who said he did not understand farming, and that he inspected the improvements Gallen desired to make; and will he say why the loan was not granted.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I am informed that the loan was refused because the Board of Works, after considering their inspector's report, came to the conclusion that the annual value of the benefit to be derived from the expenditure would not be equal to the amount of the annual instalment in payment of the loan. All applications for loans, I understand, are dealt with on this principle, and no exception was made in Gallen's case; if adjoining farmers obtained loans it was because they fulfilled the general conditions, which he did not. The Board were satisfied of his title, and believe that there is no incumbrance on the holding. The charge of 10s. is a regular charge made in every case towards the preliminary expenses, which it does not fully cover. The Board's inspector who visited Gallen's holding has both theoretical knowledge and practical experience of farming, and I feel difficulty therefore in supposing that he could have made the statement attributed to him.