§ MR CULLINAN (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the 50 Board of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the attention of his Department has been directed to the wholesale clearances of ornamental and useful timber being carried out by landowners (mainly absentees) throughout the country; whether steps will be taken to check them; and whether the time has come when a scheme of reafforestation might be favourably considered and given practical effect to.
§ The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE for IRELAND (Mr. T. W. Russell,) Tyrone, S.Yes, Sir. It is a fact that both landlords and tenants are cutting down timber in many parts of the country. The area under wood in 1895 was 308, 928 acres. In 1905 it was 301, 132, a decrease of 7, 796 acres, and there is reason for believing that the rate has in-creased rather than decreased since 1905. Having consulted with the Chief Secretary, I propose to appoint a small Departmental Committee, not to consider the utility of afforestation, but to devise a scheme whereby, first, the mischief now going on may be chocked, and, secondly, the best means of approaching the larger question of afforestation may be ascertained.
§ MR KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)asked whether steps would be taken immediately to preserve the woods of Dundrum, which were now in the hands of the Estates Commissioners.
§ MR T. W. RUSSELLI do not know about the woods in question, but I am aware that the Estates Commissioners will do everything in their power to preserve the woods.
§ Captain DONELAN (Cork, E.)asked whether the hon. Gentleman's Department had any power to purchase woods and plantations for the purpose of preserving timber.
§ MR T. W. RUSSELLNo, Sir.