§ 17. Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary whether in view of the prospects in store for the working classes in Ireland during the coming winter, he will see that the Local Government Board sanctions reductions in the rents of labourers' cottages in any rural district where the local public body responsible to the ratepayers consider it advisable this such should be done; and will he also consider the advisability of arranging that 375 in the coming spring seed potatoes will be given to the poor, the same to be paid for by instalments extending over a period of years, as has been done on previous occasions?
§ Mr. DUKEIn the opinion of the Irish Local Government Board, the suggested reductions of the rents of labourers' cottages would not, to any appreciable extent, meet the circumstances referred to. The Local Government Board consider the question to be one of wages rather than of rate aid. I propose to discuss further with the officers of the Board the question whether effect can properly be given to resolutions of the local bodies to which he refers. As regards the latter part of the question, if later on it is found that as the result of the partial failure of the potato crop the poor are unable to obtain an adequate supply of seed potatoes, the suggestion of the hon. Member will receive full consideration.
§ 38. Captain DONELANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the amount of potatoes shipped from Ireland by or for the Government during the present season?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The Department have no Returns of this nature, and the hon. Gentleman had better put his question to the Under-Secretary for War. The War Office is, I think, the only branch of the Government exporting foodstuffs from Ireland.