§ 91. Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of money granted to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society in Ireland by the Development Commissioners; for what purposes this money has been granted; whether the Development Commissioners have appointed any members to act on the governing body of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society; and, if so, can he state the names of the members so appointed; and what means are adopted by the Development Commissioners to assure themselves that the money granted to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society is devoted to the purposes for which it was granted?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Commissioners have recommended, and the Treasury have sanctioned, advances to a maximum amount of £7,500 to the Irish Agricultural Organisation. Society in aid of the society's work in organising agricultural co-operation in Ireland. They nominated some time ago the following members of the committee of the society: Two Commissioners (Mr. Vaughan Nash and Mr. A. D. Hall), a member of their staff (Lord Basil Blackwood), and three gentlemen not holding any official position, namely, Mr. Stephen Brown, Mr. T. G. Griffin, and Mr. T. L. Esmonde—of whom, I understand, Mr. Griffin has recently died. The presence of these gentlemen on the committee, with the same access to the society's accounts, records and reports and the same knowledge of its proceedings as any other member of the committee would appear to afford adequate guarantee, if any special security is needed, that the society is applying the money to the purposes for which it is granted.
§ Mr. DILLONDo I understand from that answer that the Commissioners do not require any special audit to ensure that the money is being spent for the purposes for which it is being granted?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI think the presence of the representatives on the committee is sufficient.