§ MR. DILLONTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the plan of distributing potato seed through co-operative banks adopted by the Agricultural Department; whether the Irish Government approve of this scheme; and whether he can state the full details of the scheme.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Department of Agriculture, with the concurrence of the Agricultural Board, have made arrangements for utilising agricultural credit societies in the western districts for the purpose of facilitating the introduction of new seed for the potato and other crops. Under this scheme the Department assist existing societies by the loan of additional capital in cases in which the existing capital is insufficient, and they also promote the organisation of new societies where such would seem to be needed. The Department use the services of the organisers of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society for the working of this scheme. I am forwarding to the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued by the Organisation Society, with the approval of the Department.