§ 60. Major O'NEILLasked the Prime Minister why the terms of reference to the Royal Commission on Agriculture are confined to the conditions in Great Britain; and what steps the Government propose to take to consider and safeguard the future of the agricultural industry in Ireland?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe conditions of land tenure and employment of labour in Ireland are so different from those prevailing in Great Britain that the inclusion of Ireland in the reference to the Royal Commission would unnecessarily delay their findings without adding material information on the main issue of the inquiry—the relation between the prices of agricultural produce and the costs of labour.
§ Major O'NEILLIs it not a fact that the Corn Production Act, which has given-rise to the necessity for this Commission, applied to England and Ireland equally; and is it not also a fact that in Ireland the dependence of the population upon-agriculture is far larger than in Great Britain? Is it not, therefore, far more vital to that country than here that a Commission should be set up to determine the future of the agricultural industry?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer I have-given is the only answer I can give for not doing what the hon. Member suggests. It would cause delay, and the delay would render the value of the Commission very much less.
§ Major O'NEILLAre we to understand that no effort is to be made by the Government to protect the Irish farmers from 2011 the danger which the agricultural community as a whole foresee is possible in the future?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Commission will not protect the farmers from dangers. It will be the decision of Parliament that will do that.