37. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked whether a request has been received for a Grant to the Irish Agricultural Society from the Development Fund; if such a Grant has been delayed or refused; if any 463 previous Grants have been made to the same society; whether the objects of the society place it in antagonism with certain existing agencies and persons in Ireland who derive considerable profit from agricultural loans: and if he will lay upon the Table the Tapers relating to the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAn application has been received and is under the consideration of the Treasury. No previous Grants have been made to this society from the Development Fund, but it received subsidies from the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction amounting in all to £29,316. These subsidies were discontinued at the end of 1908 for the reasons indicated in the Minute of the Agricultural Board of 28th January, 1908. As pointed out in that Minute, which was published in the newspapers at the time, the society is certainly associated in many people's minds with hostility to certain trading interests. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.
Mr. FRED HALLHave strong representations been made by interested parties that the money should not be advanced, and, if so, whether they were made in the interests of moneylenders?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir; the matter is one which, in its present stage, does not come before me. The matter is before the Treasury. They have had representations made, I believe, by different persons and different interests.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe matter is under consideration.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know about the general belief.