§ 44. Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that of the owners of large tracts of bog in Ireland some refuse to allow any peat to be got for fuel and some nominally allow but in practice prevent it by a prohibitive charge; and, in view of the urgency of this matter at the present time, whether he will introduce a short emergency Bill to make all unsold and unused bogs available for getting and saving peat for fuel during the continuance of the War?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I have no information in regard to the statements made in the first part of the question, and, in any case, I do not anticipate that any legislation of a compulsory character will be necessary to secure a plentiful supply of bog during the continuance of the War.