§ 18. Mr. WILLIAM COOTEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware of the attempt of certain dock labour organisations in Ireland, principally Sinn Fein, to interfere with the free sale of agricultural produce in British markets; if he is aware that the farmers and farm labourers form the greater part of the population of Ireland and cannot exist if their industry is to be curtailed and their markets interfered with; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to protect their industry and encourage and ensure an increased production in future?
§ Mr. H. T. BARRIE (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture)The Irish branch of the Ministry of Transport informed the Department of Agriculture on the 10th instant, that the dockers at the port of Belfast had refused to handle butter for shipment to England and Scotland and that shipping companies had received intimation from the local Secretary of the Dockers' Union that on and after the 12th instant, members of the union would not handle any carcases of pork, bacon, ham, etc., until further notice. This attitude, it was announced, was taken up in consequence of the withdrawal of the control of the prices and 1390 exports of such products. The stoppage subsequently extended to Londonderry, Greenore, Dublin and most other Irish ports and was also applied to live pigs, with consequent serious dislocation of trade in Ireland, including closing down of purchases of pigs by bacon-curing factories, as well as cessation of exports to Great Britain, and threatened deterioration of large quantities of perishable food.
In this emergency, conferences were held at the offices of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland with representatives of farmers, merchants and labour, at which a voluntary arrangement was arrived at for retail prices in Ireland and the resumption of exports. The whole position is continuing to receive careful consideration.
§ Captain REDMONDAre we to understand that this so-called Soviet action in Ireland originated at Belfast?
§ Mr. COOTEIs my right hon. Friend aware that there are several Sinn Fein organisations working under the camouflage of labour which have for their object the suicidal policy of destroying any hopes of agriculture in the country by depriving the Irish people of British markets, and will he take steps to see that farm labourers are protected in this matter?
§ Mr. BARRIEI think it would be incorrect to say that this action originated at Belfast. It is true the labourers at Belfast were the first to apply it, but I hope the House will not exaggerate the significance of an event which is I think already regretted and that the voluntary arrangement which has been entered into by all parties will be allowed a fair trial.