§ 14. Captain SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, having regard to the need for increased tillage in Ireland, and bearing in mind the fact that tenants of labourers' cottages who have only got one half-acre with their holdings rapidly exhaust the productive power of their plots, he will take steps to see that the provision of additional half-acres under the Labourers' Acts is made possible, that the necessary Grants for this purpose will be made available with as little delay as possible, and that the rural district councils will be encouraged to meet the wants of the labourers in this connection?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers I gave to his questions on this subject on the 7th March, to which I may add that the increase of existing allotments to the maximum of an acre is not mandatory, and loans from public funds for the purchase of additional plots are not now available.
§ Captain SHEEHANI want to know why those lands should not be made available having regard to the urgent necessity for them?
§ Mr. SAMUELSIf the hon. Member refers to the previous answers, he will find the explanation of the matter.
§ Captain SHEEHANNot at all. May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether there are not ample powers under the Labourers' Acts for granting these additional allotments, which are undoubtedly required? The hon. Gentleman is perfectly well aware of the fact himself.
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe answer which I gave before refers to the necessity for inquiries and local investigations and loans, and I have nothing to add at present.
§ 19. Mr. LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the 1137 food shortage, it is proposed to throw open to tillage any portion of the grass lands of Ireland, and particularly of county Clare, now unused but suitable for that purpose?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI cannot add anything to the answers given by the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member's questions on the 11th and 14th March.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill the Irish Office look into this matter and consider it, together with the elements of the real shortage of food, the amount of land which is available for producing food, and the condition of the uneconomic holders adjacent to this land; and will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider the very important facts I have placed before him, and try to obtain a satisfactory solution of this question, which is at the seat of the present unrest?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThis question is continually engaging the attention of the Government in Ireland.
§ 21. Captain SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the extent to which the special measures for securing an increase of food production in Ireland include financial assistance, by way of loan or otherwise, to small fanners and allotment holders; how much was granted in this way during the year 1917; and whether applications for the present year may still be considered?
§ Mr. SAMUELSUnder the Urban Allotments (Ireland) Order, 1917, borough and urban councils may supply allotment holders and tenants of artisans' dwellings and others within their districts with such necessaries as seed, manure, by way of loan repayable within six months after the date of supply. Councils with insufficient funds may obtain advances from their treasurers. I am not in a position to state the amount advanced in this way last year. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining good seed in most districts in 1917, the Board of Works were authorised to lend money to rural district councils for the supply of seed to small farmers and cultivators. The amount so advanced was£134,588. I understand that there is no likelihood of a shortage of seed this year.
§ Captain SHEEHANHave any applications been received this year; and will any be entertained if they are received?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI have no information.