§ 71 and 72. Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether for many months past there has been and still is a scarcity of potatoes in Great Britain, which has pressed with severity on the poorer classes of the community, while during the same period the Irish Government have refused, except under special circumstances, to allow potatoes to be exported from Ireland to Great Britain; whether it now appears that potatoes have been hoarded and are now rotting in Ireland; and why an artificial scarcity of potatoes has been created by the action of the Irish Government; and (2) whether he has been able to peruse the proceedings of the Hotel and Tourist Association of Ireland held under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, at the Mansion House, on the 7th instant; whether he is aware that the Lord Mayor stated that potatoes were now rotting in the country and that forty wagons of potatoes were lying at the Great Northern Railway terminus practically useless, and that a resolution was passed that there was a large margin of potatoes available for immediate export to Great Britain; and what action, as President of the Board of Agriculture (Ireland), he has taken or proposes to take?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)I am, of course, aware of the shortage of potatoes which has existed in Great Britain and of the Regulations as to export of potatoes from Ireland, which have been in force during the winter. I have no reason to suppose that potatoes have been hoarded, or are now rotting in Ireland. What potatoes are left are reported to me to be keeping well. With regard to the meeting mentioned in Question 72, I am informed that at the date referred to not more than twelve wagons of potatoes were at the Great Northern Railway Station, Dublin, of which four wagons were rejected by the military authorities, as too small for table purposes; but these have since been shipped. Most of the other wagons were consigned to Dublin potato factors, and were distributed in the usual way. The price of potatoes in the Dublin market has remained at £11 10s. per ton, indicating that a surplus of suitable table potatoes has not been lying at the railway stations. The resolution referred to was passed at the meeting, but the Depart- 1405 ment's information is that only a small margin of potatoes is available for military purposes or for export to Great Britain. Since the 4th instant licences have been issued for the export to Great Britain of 6,200 tons of potatoes which had been earmarked and surrendered for the military authorities, but were not immediately required for Army or Navy purposes. No new policy for dealing with this matter seems to me to be required.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that amongst the labouring element in Ireland potatoes constitute the main food for their sustenance, and that owing to the high prices of Indian meal and flour the labouring classes are unable to buy either, and must subsist on potatoes?