§ 4. Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade why the Board selected the middle of the best fishing 273 season to stop fishing for a week off the Aran Isles for inspection of the steamer connected with that industry, when such inspection could have been made at a less inconvenient time; and what length of notice of the intended inspection was given, and to whom, to allow of the provision of other boats?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIf the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to give me particulars of the case he has in mind I will inquire into it.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper referring to the cable to the Aran Isles? Surely that is specific enough.
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo, we want some further particulars.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the hon. Gentleman say what particulars he wants? The cable from the mainland to Ireland?
§ Mr. PRETYMANWe have not sufficient particulars in this question to enable us to deal with it.
§ 3. Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General whether there is any other reason than economic pressure in the interest of recruiting for leaving the cable to the Aran Isles inoperative during the best season for the fishing industry, to the serious detriment of that industry; whether the cable will be repaired before the season has wholly passed; and whether any other cable in the United Kingdom essential to a fishing industry is now inoperative?
The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 2nd March. It will be at least a month before the Aran cable can be repaired, owing to the number of cables which have to be maintained and the difficulty of carrying out such work at the present time.