§ Mr. DELANYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) who has been appointed to succeed the late Arthur Owen as the Department's inspector of fairs in the Queen's County; 199 what qualifications has the person appointed for the position; what are the nature of his duties; and the amount of his salary?
The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE (Ireland, Mr. T. W. Russell)The late Mr. Arthur Owen was Reporter (not Inspector) of Prices for Fairs held in the counties of Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Queen's, Wexford, and Wicklow. On his death the district was allotted amongst four new Reporters, and the reports of prices at the fairs in Queen's County, with others, have since been furnished by one of these—Mr. John Mahon, Ardnahue, Carlow. Before appointing the four Reporters referred to, the Department satisfied themselves, by careful inquiries and by personal interviews, that from training and experience these gentlemen were fully competent to perform the duties of Reporters. The Reporters have to attend selected fairs held at various centres in the counties mentioned above and to supply to the Department a report for each fair, stating the main features as regards supplies and prices, the numbers of live stock at different ages and classes offered for sale and sold, and also the lowest, highest, and average prices obtained. Each of these Reporters is paid a fee of £20 a year, and is allowed second-class travelling expenses.