§ 4. Mr. BARNESasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his letter of the 7th alleging that the Irish co-operative creameries had artificially increased prices was sent to Ireland, as alleged by Sir Horace Plunkett in a letter of the 8th, without inquiry from the Irish agents of the creameries; if he has received Sir Horace Plunkett's denial of artificial increase of prices and the assurance that, on the contrary, the resources of the co-operative movement in Ireland were being used to prevent artificial increase in prices of food during the War; and if he will now cause inquiry to be made as to the facts, and give the same publicity to the findings as was given by his direction to his original charge?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The telegram sent by the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture and myself to the Secretary of that Department did not refer only to Irish co-operative creameries, but to all Irish creameries, and was based on information supplied to the Cabinet. I am not aware that any persons can be said to be the agents of the Irish creameries in general. I have received a communication from Sir Horace Plunkett to the effect mentioned, but the matter is now closed, and I think nothing would be gained by making an inquiry as to the particular creameries which were responsible for the large increase in prices which undoubtedly took place.