§ 49 and 50. Mr. J. O'CONNORasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, as a check on the land hunger in Ireland and the undue inflation of land values in that country, he will take steps to remove the block against the operations of the Estates Commissioners so as to enable them to take over land for distribution among those who are willing and eager to till the same; (2) whether his attention and that of the War Cabinet have been called to the inflation of the price of land in Ireland and the amount of letting rents of grass lands, in both cases often from five to ten times pre-war figures; and, having regard to natural requirements for food at reasonable prices, he and the War Cabinet have considered the advisability of restraining this inflation in the interests of economical food production
§ Mr. DUKEI have been asked to reply to these questions. The Department of Agriculture are taking steps with a view to increasing the food supply in Ireland during the coming year by increased tillage. Even if it were possible to take steps to enable the Estates Commissioners to distribute estates under the provisions of the Irish Land Acts, no arrangements could be made in time to increase the food supply this season. The Irish Government have no information as to the extent to which the price of land and the rent of grass land have risen since the beginning of the War, but there is little doubt that they have increased considerably, though probably not to the extent suggested in the question. I may remind the hon. Member that if powers were granted to control prices of land and rents in the hope of reducing prices of food-stuffs, this would involve the necessity of further control over the prices paid to farmers for their produce.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware from publications in the newspapers that the price of land in Ireland has gone up to the extent mentioned in the question; and does lie not think it is a matter of State policy that these lands should be sold at prices as will enable food to be produced at a reasonable rate? At the present prices in Ireland it is absolutely impossible to do that.
§ Mr. DUKEI have no control over prices fetched at auctions of Irish land, but I do not suppose a buyer pays more than he is likely to be remunerated.