§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, as a result of the refusal of the manager of the Rattoo Cooperative Dairy Society to send butter to the Department's surprise competitions in furtherance of the protest made by the Creamery Managers' Association against the appointment by the Department of an incompetent instructor, the manager in question has been dismissed from his position, and whether the Department have guaranteed or arranged with the Rattoo Co-operative Dairy Society to provide a manager in his stead?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLI have already had occasion, in reply to the hon. Member's question of 17th May last, to say that there is no ground for the statement that an incompetent instructor has been appointed by the Department. In view of my reply to that question, I must take strong exception to the repetition of this unwarranted imputation, and I must request that it shall not again be made. The Department have been informed by the Secretary of the Rattoo Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Society that the society have decided to dispense with the services of the manager of their creamery, who, it appears, when instructed by the society to send exhibits from their creamery to the surprise butter competitions, refused to do so. The Department, 1928 having been consulted by the Society in regard to the selection of another manager for their creamery, advised them to advertise for applicants for the appointment. The Department have not given any guarantee nor made any arrangement of the nature suggested in the question, beyond informing the Society that they will be prepared to assist them, as far as practicable, in the selection of a manager.