§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if there is any provision in the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, or in the proposed Labourers Bill, which will permit agricultural labourers to acquire an additional acre of land, so as to supply milk for use of their family; and whether there is any provision which will give, through the rural district councils or otherwise, turbary as a fuel for the use of the labourers' cottages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are no such provisions in the Labourers (Ireland) Acts or in the proposed Labourers Bill. Under Section 18 of the Land Act of 1909 rural district councils may, subject to certain conditions, purchase lands for any of the purposes, including the provision of turbary, specified in Section 4 of the Land Act of 1903.
§ Mr. FLAVINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the labourers who are tenants of the cottages have very great difficulty in acquiring turbary except at prices which makes it almost impossible for them to buy it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is great difficulty in getting it some times.