§ 82. Mr. REDDYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Rev. W. H. Sheppard, who holds 350 acres of land at Tubrid, Shinrone, King's County, complied with the Tillage Orders made by the Department; whether the small landholders of the district were able and willing to till any portions of such land that might be let to them for the purpose at a reasonable 1933 rent; and if he will say what steps the Department have taken or propose to take with reference to the Rev. Mr. Sheppard's failure to till any portion of his farm?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Shortt)For the purposes of the compulsory Tillage Orders the holding in question was aggregated with other holdings and accordingly the requisite cultivation in respect of the lands at Tubrid could be carried out elsewhere. On these aggregated holdings the cultivation necessary to comply with the Orders was carried out in 1917.
The Department understand that the small holders of the district have intimated their willingness to take portion of the lands for cultivation at a requisite rent. As regards the present year it has not been feasible as yet to make an inspection of the aggregated holdings referred to, to ascertain the actual area cultivated, but the Department have no reason to doubt that an area at least equal to the total required under the Tillage Orders has been cultivated in respect of these holdings.
§ Mr. SHORTTI do not follow the question.