TILLAGE (IRELAND). (Hansard, 29 November 1917)

§ 26. Mr. SCANLAN
asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) on what grounds the Department have refused to supply to the County Sligo Agricultural Committee a list of defaulters under the tillage scheme; and whether, on reconsideration of the committee's application and in order to encourage the universal carrying out of the Tillage Order, this information will now be sent to the committee?

§ Mr. DUKE
The Department of Agriculture is satisfied that the publication of particulars of individual cases of default at the present time would not be in the public interest. Any case of default reported to the Department by the County Sligo Food 2200 Production Sub-Committee will be dealt with, and steps taken to ensure compliance with the Compulsory Tillage Regulations.

§ Mr. SCANLAN
Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it would be desirable for this agricultural committee for the county of Sligo to have a record of the cases in which farmers and graziers are not complying with the Tillage Order so as to help the Government promote the tillage scheme?

§ Mr. DUKE
I know that the most harmonious relations exist between the Department of Agriculture and the county committees, and every help that is needed by the Department from the committee will no doubt be called for and given.

§ Mr. SCANLAN
Is there any reason why the Department of Agriculture should show this disrespect to one of its own county committees in refusing to give the committee information which is vital for the purposes of the committee, namely, the instances in which farmers, graziers and landlords in the county are not complying with the Tillage Order of the Government?

§ Mr. DUKE
Communication of information must, of course, be under the control of the Department. The Department is glad to avail itself of the services of the committee, but it cannot divest itself of responsibility, or transfer it to the county committee.

§ Mr. SCANLAN
Is it not evident that the right hon. Gentleman and the Department consider the county committee as a foreign body having no interest in the progress of tillage in the county? Why should this be?