§ 21. Captain SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the practice largely obtains over "wide areas in Ireland of letting land on what is known as the eleven months' grazing system, and that demesne lands in the hands of landowners are extensively so let; whether he is aware that this system tends to greatly inflate the price of land and put a false value upon it and is fatal to all tillage operations on land so let; if he will state if the Tillage Order has been enforced in regard to land subject to these lettings; if so, to what extent; and whether he will consider the desirability, in the interests of the nation, of putting an end to these eleven months' lettings, and of acquiring compulsorily all lands which have been hitherto subject to them by the State and dividing them up amongst the industrious labourers and small farmers of the country?
§ Mr. DUKEIt is a custom in Ireland for many occupiers of land to let portions of their holdings for grazing on what is known as the eleven-months system, and I am told that at the present time high rents are paid for such land. But the occupier is not relieved of his obligation to cultivate the prescribed proportion of his holding under the compulsory Tillage Orders by letting land on this system; and such occupiers are required to cultivate the requisite area and in the generality of 898 cases are proceeding to do so. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, the object of the compulsory Tillage Orders is to secure an increased production of food and not to effect an alteration in the ownership of land.
§ Captain SHEEHANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these lands are frequently let under this eleven months' grazing system, and once they are let they are not subject to the Order?
§ Mr. DUKEThe hon. Member is quite mistaken. The Tillage Regulations were drawn up with special care to prevent the exclusion of land from tillage by this process of letting for eleven months, and large areas are being subjected to tillage. In some cases the whole extent of farms of this kind has been entered upon by the Department of Agriculture, in order that accommodation for tillage may be obtained.
§ Captain SHEEHANThat was the exact point originally asked in the question, but not answered until the supplementary.
§ Mr. DUKEIf the hon. Gentleman will do me the favour of reading my reply, he will see that it was a full answer.
§ Mr. FIELDAre we to understand that the proportion of the land not under the eleven months' system will be applied to tillage?
§ Mr. DUKECertainly, subject to the rules set out, there is power to have the whole of the area entered upon by the Department of Agriculture, and it is liable to be the subject of tillage.
§ Major NEWMANAre there inspectors to see that demesne owners comply?
§ Mr. DUKEThere are a good many inspectors. I see from day to day reports of the Department having actually entered on areas of hundreds of acres of land.
§ 33. Mr. FITZPATRICKasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that Mr. George Alley holds 600 acres of grazing land at Donaghmore, Queen's County, none of which he tills himself, and, in addition to this, he holds an outside farm of 30 acres at Coolkerry, adjoining the town of Rathdowney, none of which he 899 tills himself, but has let his Coolkerry farm to Mr. Richard Pearson, who holds 400 acres of grazing land at Shrah, for the purpose of getting it tilled, and in order to prevent a number of landless people of Rathdowney, who arc in need of allotments for tillage, getting any; if he is aware that Mr. Pearson is not in a position to carry out the Tillage Order, and last season allowed his corn and root crops to rot in the fields through neglect: if he is aware that a number of labourers and landless people from Rathdowney and district who applied for tillage allotments last year were left unprovided for by the Department of Agriculture; and whether he proposes to take steps to acquire this land, in order to provide allotments for these people?
§ Mr. DUKEAs I have already stated in reply to previous questions, the Department of Agriculture do not consider it in the public interest to furnish details of the action taken in connection with individual cases under the compulsory tillage provisions of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. These Regulations were complied with in 1917 in respect of the lands referred to in the question. I am informed that Mr. Alley died since the Order was made, and the lands are now in the occupation of his son. There is no reason to believe that the Regulations will not be complied with this year. Unless a holder is in default under the Regulations, there is no power to take the action suggested in the question.
§ 35. Mr. FITZPATRICKasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that the Tillage Order has not been carried out on the Warrenford estate at Garryheather, Clonaslee, Queen's County, which contains 240 acres and is let on the eleven-months' system to Mr. Michael Hucket, of Streams town, Birr, King's County, who holds 700 acres of grazing land in addition to this farm; if he is aware that twenty-one small tenants, whose valuation does not exceed £6 per year, live on this estate and are prepared to till this ranch if divided amongst them; and whether he will take steps under the Tillage Order to have this land let at a, fair price to these small holders?
§ Mr. DUKEThe inspection of the lands referred to has been arranged, and on receipt of the inspector's report any action 900 necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of the compulsory Tillage Order will be taken.
§ 36. Captain SHEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, as the time available for ploughing operations is becoming limited, he will state what decision has been come to about enforcing the Tillage Order on the evicted farm formerly occupied by Timothy Murphy, at Coolikerane, Millstreet, county Cork; whether the attention of his Department was drawn to this farm last year, and that, notwithstanding, it was allowed to remain derelict; whether the evicted tenant has signified his intention of tilling the farm if he is allowed to do so; and whether it is any part of the policy of his Department to exempt evicted farms on which no tillage is done from the operations of the Tillage Order?
§ Mr. DUKEThe farm referred to has been rigidly boycotted for nine or ten years, and the caretaker is under constant police protection. In March last the police reported that 20 acres were offered for tillage, but that there were no applicants. It would be inequitable to attempt to enforce the compulsory Tillage Regulations in such n case.
§ Captain SHEEHANWill the right hon. Gentleman answer that: portion of my question which asks whether the evicted tenant, who is quite willing to till the farm, will be allowed the opportunity of doing so?
§ Mr. DUKEI do not know who is the person entitled to till the farm. If he has any lawful right I shall assist him, as I shall any other person in Ireland, to get it enforced. If he has not any legal light, it is idle to specify him as the evicted tenant.
§ Captain SHEEHANIs it the policy of the Department to exempt evicted tenants in Ireland from the operation of the Tillage Order, because in this case they have done so?
§ Mr. DUKENo, Sir, it is not; but if the owner of land who is lawfully in possession of it is disabled through a boycott from carrying out the Tillage Regulations, so far as I am concerned, I shall be no party to setting the law in action to prosecute him.
§ Captain SHEEHANWill the same offer be made this year as was made last year by the Department to allot 20 acres of this farm for tillage?
§ 37. Captain SHEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to a statement made by the chairman of the Cork People's Food Committee at the last meeting of that body to the effect that the Department of Agriculture bought 40,000 tons of oats for the purpose of seed to be used for next season's crop in the county but that this was subsequently handed over to the military and sent in 84–lb. bags to France; whether he is aware that, owing to the failure of the authorities to regulate the milk supply in Cork and to bring it within the reach of the families of the poor, it has been necessary to form a local organisation, supported by voluntary contributions, to supply milk at a reduced price to the pool" of the city; whether there are many complaints of the manner in which food supplies are being controlled and distributed and that it is alleged, as a consequence, that the working classes are suffering serious shortages and are charged excessive prices; and will he state what powers, if any, are possessed by his Department for seeing that there is an equitable distribution, of the food supplies of Ireland, particularly amongst the working classes and the poor people?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that the Department of Agriculture have purchased no seed oats, except the limited quantities required for their own farms. As to the distribution of food supplies, the Ministry of Food are advised in matters relating to Ireland by an Irish Food Control Committee. This Committee informs me that under the Milk (Ireland) Order, which gives the Food Control Committee power to fix a special price for any district, the price in Cork was fixed at the request of the local food committee at 2s. per gallon. I am told that owing to the general shortage of supplies it has been found necessary to organise a supply of milk for the poor of several large towns. There is, however, no reason for believing that the shortage is due to the manner in which control has been exercised. The greatest care is taken in connection with the distribution of supplies and control of prices in poor districts. Cases of overcharging should. 902 be reported to the police or the agents of the committee. A large number of prosecutions have already taken place.