§ Mr. GILHOOLYasked whether the definition of an agricultural labourer in the Labourers Acts has frequently been held by inspectors of the Local Government Board not to embrace deep-sea fishermen; whether he is aware that eight or nine claims of fishermen from the Baltimore districts were rejected at the inquiry recently held into an improvement scheme of the Skibbereen Rural District Council; and, in view of this fact, will he introduce a special clause into his Labourers Bill entitling fishermen as such without any limiting qualifications to cottages and allotments of land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the Local Government Board that only one application for a cottage lodged by a fisherman in connection with the scheme of the Skibbereen Rural District Council was disallowed on the ground that the applicant did not work for hire, as required by the definition of agricultural labourer. Six applications from fishermen for additional allotments were rejected on other grounds. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a similar question asked yesterday by the hon. Member for Mid-Cork.
§ Mr. SHEEHANasked whether the definition of an agricultural labourer in Section 93 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, has been variously interpreted by inspectors of the Local Government Board, some holding that the expression, any person working for hire in a rural district whose average wages do not exceed 2s. 6d. a day, means 2s. 6d. a day for six days of the week; whilst others maintain that it means this amount for the seven days of the week; whether he is aware that numerous labourers have had their claims rejected owing to the six-day interpretation of certain inspectors; and whether, seeing that the average of 2s. 6d. a day was intended to apply to every day in the year including Sundays, he will, so 1507 as to remove all future misconception on this point, introduce an Amendment into the Labourers Bill now before Parliament which will put an end to the conflict of opinion at present existing in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am not aware that there has been any difference of opinion as to the interpretation of the section. If the labourer earns not more than 2s. 6d. a day, even though he works seven days in the week, he comes within the new class of agricultural workers defined in Section 93 of the Irish Land Act of 1903. No amendment of the existing law appears to be required.
§ Mr. SHEEHANMay I ask if 2s. 6d. applies to every day of the week including Sunday?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA man who earns not more than 2s. 6d., although he earns it seven days a week, comes within the new Clause.