§ 26. Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if tobacco must be sown immediately in North Wexford if a crop is to be raised this year, and, in view of this fact, if he will state precisely what conditions are laid down by the Development Commissioners for participation in the £70,000 Grant allocated to Ireland by the Commissioners; why Father Sweetman's proposals are altogether outside any possibility of acceptance in connection with that Grant; and what modifications in Father Sweetman's proposals would be acceptable to the Department?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The Irish tobacco experiment for the current year is being carried out, not as the hon. Baronet presumes under the scheme of the Development Commissioners, but under the Treasury Grant, which expires at the close of the present year. It would not be possible in reply to a question to state the conditions proposed by the Development Commissioners—and negotiations are still in progress—but they involve provisions that the Grant of £70,000 shall be worked by two experimenters, who shall be responsible for the growing of the tobacco and for the processes of curing, rehandling, manufacturing, and marketing. The Department arrived at the conclusion that Father Sweetman did not possess the requirements necessary for this work and that the article grown by him was not suitable for the experiment.
§ Sir T. ESMONDEDo I understand that this Grant of £70,000 will not be available until next year?
§ Mr. RUSSELLIf available at all.
§ Sir T. ESMONDEIf it is available, it will not be available until next year. If it is available, will the North Wexford tobacco growers have the same opportunity of obtaining a share of it as other tobacco growers?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThat would depend upon the report of the experimenters. They will have to apportion the Grant amongst the small farmers who grow tobacco.
§ Mr. STANIERCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much this Treasury Grant is which Ireland is to receive?
§ Mr. RUSSELLIt is a Grant of £6,000 per annum given by the Treasury five years ago.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman in reference to this Grant of £70,000 whether the Department of Agriculture in Ireland have got a free hand in making conditions, or whether it is true that certain conditions have been imposed by the Development Commissioners; and, if that is the case, whether he will communicate those conditions to Members interested, and whether he can say if the Department has yet entered into an agreement with anyone?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI may say that, as far as the first experiment is concerned, an agreement has been drawn up by the Department and the Development Commissioners.