§ 18. Mr. FITZPATRICKasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that under the new military hay trade restrictions, the granting of permission for the sale of hay is in the hands of one military officer for the whole of Queen's County; and, as farmers have been caused trouble and inconvenience in the sale of their hay by these restrictions, will he take steps to have them removed?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe Department is not aware of the trouble and inconvenience alluded to; the distribution of the Permit Officers in Ireland is considered adequate to the requirements.
§ Mr. FITZPATRICKIs there only one office for the whole of Queen's County?
§ Mr. FORSTERWe are doing everything we can. I have gone into the matter lately to see that every facility is given to the farmers.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs it not the fact that there are 4,000,000 tons of hay in Ireland and that the Government requirement is for only 100,000 tons? Having regard to that fact, will the hon. Gentleman devise some scheme by which the hay not required by the military can be sold by the farmers?
§ Mr. FORSTERI hope, as the result of the arrangements we have been making in the last few days, that the grievance to which the hon. Member refers will be materially lessened if not altogether removed.
§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNORIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very heavy crop in Ireland and that there is no necessity for restrictions at all?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am very glad to know that the crop of hay is very heavy in Ireland.
§ 21. Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has' yet devised a scheme by which a certain class of hay not suitable for the Army can be sold by farmers to intending purchasers without the necessity of having to get a permit for the purpose; whether, as the Army do not require all the hay grown in Ireland, some means will be found by which intending purchasers can acquire some of the clover and rye hay without a permit; and whether, to convenience the public, he will appoint an 293 officer in Limerick for the purpose of granting permits in the counties of Limerick and Clare?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is not considered practicable or desirable to allow the removal of any Irish hay without a permit, but an adequate number of officers are now systematically touring the counties named with wide discretionary powers as to the release of hay.
§ Mr. FITZPATRICKWhy have farmers not been allowed to sell cow's hay without restriction?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think I have already dealt with that question.
§ Mr. FFRENCHIs there any intention of curtailing the farmers who will probably require the hay to feed their own cattle?
§ Mr. FORSTEROh, no; certainly not.