§ 42. Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that there are about 4,000 acres of un-tenanted and non-residential lands in the Creggs district, near Roscommon, less than 200 acres of which are under cultivation and less than 40 acres of which are unfit for cultivation, all the rest having been tilled heretofore with advantage though now, it is understood, represented to the Department as unarable; 1316 whether he is aware that representations have been made to the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) by the Creggs district branch of the United Irish Tillage League on behalf of five or six hundreds of uneconomic landholders in that district on the look-out for conacre lots; whether he is aware that the Department has been requested by this branch to have those lands inspected by the Department's inspector and the Tillage Regulations enforced thereon; whether he has received copies of such requests from the honorary joint secretary of the Creggs district branch; and whether he will direct the Department, should they not have already done so, to commandeer for tillage purposes all lands referred to herein, as affected by the Department's Tillage Order, 1918, and remaining unfilled on 15th March, so that persons in need of tillage and anxious to cultivate the soil can have an opportunity of helping the Government and the Department in their cry for more food?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The Department of Agriculture have received communications from the branch of the Tillage League referred to in the question to the effect that certain occupiers of lands in the district were not complying with the Tillage Orders, and asking for inspection of the lands, with a view to letting in conacre. Inspection has been made, and the results are under consideration. In all cases in which there is reason to believe that occupiers are not complying with the Tillage Orders the Department take, and will take, action to enforce the requisite cultivation; but they have no power to take possession of land unless the occupier fails to comply with Tillage Orders.