HC Deb 17 January 1918 vol 101 cc469-70
16. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has received the resolution of the Irish Plotholders' Union pointing out the gravity of the situation with regard to the food supply; if he will state what steps he proposes to take to provide every willing worker with an allotment of suitable land at a moderate rent for food producing; if he is aware that over 2,000 such persons have applied for land and that landlords holding land in the Dublin area in the vicinity of Clontarf are unduly withholding their land in order to obtain excessive profits by charging prohibitive rents; and if he will take steps to have a rent-fixing Clause included in the Defence of the Realm Regulations?

Mr DUKE

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. An inquiry was held by an inspector of the Local Government Board last week into an application of the Corporation of Dublin for compulsory powers to take land in the vicinity of Dublin for allotments. The applications, I am informed, are substantially 2,000. The Defence of the Realm Regulations give compulsory powers where land for food production is unreasonably withheld.