§ Mr. JOHN PHILLIPSasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Board of Agriculture or the Department appointed the inspectors of mares to receive nominations for the present season; and will he state the number of such inspectors, their names, and full addresses, their qualifications, and what practical experience they had of either race or draught mares?
The VICE-PRESIDENT Of the DEPARTMENT Of AGRICULTURE (IRE LAND) (Mr. T. W. Russell)The Department appoint the judges and veterinary surgeons who select the mares for nominations under the Department's scheme for encouraging improvement in the breeds of horses. Twenty-eight judges and 24 veterinary surgeons were employed by the Department in connection with the selection of mares during the season 1909. Before making the appointments the Department satisfied themselves that the gentlemen in question were fully competent for the work to be done. I shall be glad to-investigate and deal with any complaint that may be made to the Department.