§ Mr. LUNDON(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is now in a position to state whether landless men and labourers other than occupants of union cottages will be afforded the same facilities for the securing of seeds and manures as those mentioned in the Regulations issued by the Irish Food Committee, and, if to, will he instruct the Local Government Board to immediately notify all rural district councils throughout Ireland of such a decision?
§ Mr. DUKEThis matter which the hon. Member and his colleagues have several times pressed upon my consideration has been investigated by the Department of Agriculture in consultation with the Local Government Board. The exclusion of non-rated men from the advantage of the loan scheme is felt to be a hardship although the numbers affected are believed not to be very large. In order to meet their case, the Local Government Board will authorise the district councils to make special arrangements for intending cultivators who are not rated. Where persons who are not rated are getting allotments or taking land in conacre, and are not in a position to pay cash for the necessary seed and manures, advances to them will be sanctioned if they make such arrangements with the rated occupier as will obtain his consent to the addition of the amount of the loan to his rates, they providing for his reimbursement when the crop is harvested, or otherwise to his satisfaction.