§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that during the last six months the railway stations at Hollymount and Ballinrobe have been crowded with timber from the estates of Colonel Knox and Mr. Fitzpatrick, and that last year thousands of tons of wood were despatched from Claremorris station from the estate of Lord Oranmore; and 1412 whether the Department will take any steps by legislation or otherwise to prevent the West of Ireland from being denuded of timber in this way.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThe facts are substantially as stated in the Question. The Department has neither legislative powers nor other means of dealing with the difficulty.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDasked if the Government would not take steps to prevent landlords cutting down the timber in this year?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLRepresentations on the subject are receiving attention.