MR. BAERIE (Londonderry, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received numerous resolutions from public boards and public meetings recently held in Ireland, protesting against the general Order of the Local Government Board respecting dairies, cowsheds, and milk shops; and whether he will defer the enforcement of the order until the objections to portions of it have been reconsidered and dealt with.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) A comparatively small number of resolutions taking exception to the Order has been received. The Local Government Board afforded to all local authorities the fullest opportunity of considering the terms of the order, a draft of it having been circulated in August last with a view to elicit their opinions. Any points made by local authorities were carefully considered, and certain modifications were made in the draft Order before its adoption in February. The Order came into operation on 1st May, and it would be undesirable to take any steps which would 1089 impede the local authorities in giving effect to it.
§ MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of the Milford Rural District Council protesting against The Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops (Ireland) Order, 1908, made by the Local Government Board, and representing that if enforced in their district it will occasion great hardship to the small farmers, who are not in a position to make the required structural alterations or generally to carry out the demands made by the Order; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board received the resolution in question, and in reply thereto the Board pointed out to the council that it was their duty to arrange for the registration of cowkeepers, dairymen, and purveyors of milk within their district, but, seeing that only a small dairying business is carried on there, the Board indicated that the work of inspection might be performed by the sanitary sub-officers instead of by specially appointed dairy inspectors. The Board have reason to believe that only a few farmers in this district who habitually sell milk or supply milk to a creamery will be affected by the Order.