§ 101. Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether in rationing coal for private consumption in Ireland steam coal is included in the quality rationed; whether he is aware that the 200 tons commandeered by the Irish Coal Controller from the supply for Mullingar Asylum was Welsh steam coal and did not come within the terms of the Irish Coal Order at all; and will he therefore direct that Messrs. Guinness send it on to its original destination, Mullingar Asylum?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo rationing scheme for coal with respect to Ireland has been issued by the Board of Trade or the Controller of Coal Mines. The coal which was recently ordered by the Mullingar Asylum, and which was stopped, was Welsh steam coal, and the reason it was stopped was that the asylum had then a 1103 very large stock of coal on hand. This coal, I am informed, was delivered by a Dublin merchant to Messrs. A. Guinness, Son and Company against the orders of the Coal Controller, and the merchant has since explained that this was due to a clerical error.
Messrs. Guinness, Son and Company have been notified by the Coal Controller that when it becomes necessary they will be asked to give up part of their stock of coat for other purposes. The Mullingar Asylum on the 1st instant had 1,100 tons of coal in stock, and the Wolfhill Collieries are prepared to supply them with any further quantities they require.