§ 40. Mr. BOLANDasked the Food Controller what steps have been taken to secure that Irish agents who supplied feeding-staffs in 1916 should get their fair proportion supplied to them now; and whether, in view of the necessity of supplying stall-feeders and dairy-owners with feeding-stuffs, he will take action in the matter?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Shortt)The Department have entered into an arrangement with the Ministry of Food, under which Ireland is to receive, as from 1st June last, 12 per cent. of the total supplies of cattle-feeding cakes and meal available for the United Kingdom. Under this arrangement it was estimated that Ireland would receive during the year commencing 1st June last a total of 72,000 tons of such feeding-stuffs, or an average of about 6,000 tons per month. On the recommendation of this Department, the Ministry of Food have arranged for the distribution among Irish traders of the feeding-stuffs so allocated on the basis of their imports in the year 1916.
§ Mr. BOLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, as a matter of fact, that principle has been carried out, and that Ireland, during the last four months, has received the amount to which she is entitled?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe principle has been carried out, but the amount has not. That point is receiving the present attention of the Department.
§ Mr. BOLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman say the amount actually allocated to Ireland for the past four months—that is what matters?
§ Mr. SHORTTThat is not in the question, and I am afraid I have not got it.
§ Mr. BOLANDI will put down another question.
§ Mr. FLAVINHow is it that many traders since last June have been unable to receive 1 cwt. of stuff; and if that be so, how is it that Ireland is not getting her fair proportion of feeding-stuffs?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have already said that that is a matter which has been taken up by the Irish Government.
§ Mr. FLAVINCan the right hon. Gentleman say who has the distribution of it: is it the Food Commission here, or the Department of Agriculture in Ireland?
§ General CROFTCannot Ireland be put on rations the same as England?