HL Deb 15 March 1892 vol 2 cc866-8

QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS.

LORD RIBBLESDALE

My Lords, I rise to ask a question of my noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal, of which I have already given him private notice. I desire to ask him whether his attention has been drawn to several paragraphs in the newspapers during the last two or three days telling us about a tour which Mr. Burdett-Coutts, M.P., is at present making in the West of Ireland, I believe at the request of the Congested Districts Board, and accompanied by Mr. Wrench, a member of that Board and also one of the Land Commissioners. The object of this tour, according to the newspapers, is with a view to seeing what steps can best be taken for improving the breed of horses in these congested districts in the possession of small landowners, and perhaps, as the most important paragraph is a very short one, your Lordships will allow me to read it. This paragraph appeared on the 10th of March in the Daily News:— An attempt is about to be made by the Government to improve the breeds of horses in the possession of the small farmers in the congested districts of Ireland. At the request of the Congested Districts Board, Mr. Burdett-Coutts, M.P., in company with one of the Irish Land Commissioners, will this week start on a tour through the poorest parts of Galway, Mayo, and Connemara, and arrangements have been made for farmers to bring their stock to different points on the route in order that Mr. Burdett-Coutts may be enabled to form a practical opinion upon the present condition of the native breeds, and advise as to the best means of improving them. My Lords, there is such a strong official colour about that paragraph, and it so completely identifies Mr. Burdett-Coutts with Her Majesty's Government that, without going at all into the question of horse breeding in Ireland, beyond congratulating the Government on the action they took three or four years ago when they voted a large sum of money towards subsidising stallions, and saying how glad I was to see them do that, and how well aware I am that their minds are quite open to the importance of horse breeding in Ireland, I should like to ask my noble Friend whether, as it appears in these newspapers, Mr. Burdett-Coutts's visit to these congested districts in Ireland is undertaken on behalf of Her Majesty's Government or not? Perhaps my noble Friend will be able to give me an answer.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)

My Lords, I have received very short notice of my noble Friend's question, and I am not able to give him so many particulars as I should wish to do with reference to this matter to which he alludes: but my attention has been called to the paragraphs in the newspapers, and I can answer the question which my noble Friend has asked to this extent: that Mr. Burdett-Coutts is, I believe, at present visiting the Western districts in company with Mr. Wrench, who is one of the Land Commissioners, and who is investigating the subject of horse breeding in those districts; but Mr. Burdett-Coutts is, I believe, doing so entirely on his own account; and he has not been commissioned or sent there by the Government, and he in no way represents the Government. So far as the action of Mr. Wrench is concerned, my noble Friend is aware that the Congested Districts Board is an independent body; it is perfectly within their powers to investigate either the subject of horse breeding or any other subject which in their opinion it may be desirable to examine in those districts; and the Government are not directly responsible for their action. My Lords, I understand that the subject which is specially under their consideration is the desirability, if possible, of improving the breed of draft horses—cart horses in that district; and I need hardly say that, if at any future time it is in the power of the Government in any way to second their efforts in that direction, they will be very happy to do so; but at present I am not able to give any further pledge in the matter. I think I have fully answered my noble Friend by saying that the circumstance to which he alludes is one entirely under the control and direction of the Congested Districts Board in Ireland.