§ LORD CASTLETOWNMy Lords, I rise to ask (1) What steps the Department of Agriculture in Ireland have taken to carry out the work of reafforestation in that country on an adequate scale; (2) what sum is available annually for that purpose and at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture, and upon what basis that sum has been calculated: (3) what area of land has been planted by the Department since its commencement of office. Further, what existing plantations or high forests have been acquired by purchase or otherwise, also stating (a) the mode of acquisition; (b) their approximate areas respectively; (c) how they are now administered; (4) what sums have been paid out as an investment of capital, in addition to expenditure out of income for current outgoings, for the purposes embraced in Question 3, or otherwise for the advancement of afforestation since the Department came into office. I wish to supplement these Questions with a very few remarks. I think it is fairly clear that large schemes of afforestation would be profitable in Ireland, and to a certain extent are necessary, especially having regard to the fact that the Land Act of 1903 has placed it in the power of trustees to acquire land for afforestation, or to preserve woods that have already been created by proprietors. It has been conclusively proved that in Germany and France the State forests, or communal forests, have proved very lucrative and useful, and have had the effect of keeping the population in the country. In the latter direction the work of reafforestation would be of great value in Ireland; it might have the same effect in stemming excessive emigration. Though the Department of Agriculture has undoubtedly done a great deal of very good work, especially agricultural work, in many parts of Ireland. I do not think, 665 however good the will may be of those at the head of that Department, that they have either the means or the power to do what has been done in Germany and France on a larger scale, and what has proved profitable in those countries. I would, therefore, like to ask the noble Marquess what power the Department has at its disposal.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND PEESIDENT OF THE, BOARD OF EDUCATION (The Marquess of LONDONDERRY)My Lords, I know full well the great interest which my noble friend takes in everything connected with Ireland, and especially in agriculture, and he has been prominent inputting forward admirably-considered views on the subject of afforestation. There are parts of Ireland where plantation and afforestation have taken place and where the land is consequently of considerable value, while there are other parts, but a very short distance removed from these, where there has been no planting or afforestation, and the land is barren. I mention the fact merely to show how greatly I sympathise, with the noble Lord's view, and how much I think, Ireland might benefit if some such scheme as he has in his mind were carried out.
The noble Lord has stated clearly what he desires to know, and I will reply to him categorically. In reply to his first Question I have to state that the steps taken by the Department of Agriculture in connection with the reafforestation of Ireland comprise (a) the establishment of a school of practical forestry for the training of Irishmen to undertake whatever planting may, in future, be decided upon by central or local authorities, or by private individuals; (b) the making of provision for the purchase by county committees, and the distribution at cost price to private individuals, of forest and other trees; (c) negotiation for the purchase by a county council as trustee, under Section 4 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, of an area suitable for planting, as an illustration of what might be effected by a local authority in this direction. The noble Lord next asks what sum is available annually for reafforestation 666 and at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture, and upon what basis that sum has been calculated. No special annual Vote is set aside for forestry. The Department, with the concurrence of the Agricultural Board, have hitherto spent out of their endowment fund whatever sums have been found necessary for forestry operations.
In reply to the third Question put to me by the noble Lord, I have to say that a demonstration area, of about fifteen acres was planted last season. The existing plantations acquired comprise those on the Coolgreany Estate, county Wexford, and small patches on the Avondale Estate, county Wicklow. The former was acquired from the Estates Commissioners under Section 4 of the Purchase of Land Act, 1903, and the latter was purchased direct from the late owner. The Coolgreany Woods have an area of about 240 acres; the Avondale Estate consists of about 3,700 acres, a large part of which is unsuitable for planting, and will be sold to the tenants; the remainder, about 600 acres, will, in time, be planted by the apprentices attending the forestry school. Both these areas are administered directly by the Department of Agriculture. In reply to the noble Lord's final Question, the only capital sum invested in connection with forestry is the purchase price of the Avondale Estate—namely, £9,750, a sum which will be reduced by the contemplated resale of the tenanted land.
§ LORD CASTLETOWNI beg to thank the noble Marquess for the Answers he has given to my Questions. They explain, to a certain extent, what has been done by the Department of Agriculture, and as I happen to be going into the whole of the matter with friends in Ireland who are deeply interested in it, I may possibly have further Questions to put at a later date.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRYThe Irish Government will, I am sure, be very pleased to give the noble Lord any information he may desire.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock till To-morrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.