§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.)To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether it has been brought to his notice that a man named Thomas James Turner, trading as Canning Russell and Company, of 40 to 48, Charterhouse Street, London, has for some time past been obtaining considerable consignments of farm products on credit from poor Irish farmers all over Ireland; is he aware that, in the course of certain legal proceedings against Canning Russell and Company, it was ascertained by Mr. H. S. A. Foy, of Bush Lane House, Cannon Street, solicitor for a judgment creditor in Ireland, that large numbers of Irish producers had never been paid for the goods they had supplied which had been disposed of in London by this man Turner; and, seeing that a large number of Irish farmers are being and have been victimised, will he take steps to safeguard the interests of Irish agriculturists and members of co-operative societies against the continuance of this firm's misrepresentations.
(Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) One complaint respecting the firm mentioned was recently received, from which it appeared that legal proceedings for nonpayment of debts had been more than once instituted against the firm. Mr. Foy's name was not mentioned in the communication sent to the Department. With regard to the last part of the Question, publicity would seem to be the best safeguard against people in business, whether farmers or traders, being taken in by misrepresentations such as are referred to. It would not be practicable for the Department to advise Irish traders and farmers as to the financial stability of films with which they may open accounts. The usual channels for information of this kind, such as Stubbs, are open to them, and, as a rule, are consulted by traders and by farmers, and. by farmers' co-operative societies before opening new accounts.