SEED POTATOES AND SEED OATS SUPPLY (IRELAND) BILL.

HL Deb 27 July 1908 vol 193 c728

[SECOND READING.]

Order of the day for Second Reading read.

LORD DENMAN

My Lords, this is a similar Bill to one which it was my duty to introduce in this House some two years ago. Owing to the failure last summer and autumn of the potato crop in Ireland, the Treasury authorised certain grants to be made in order to supply seed potatoes and seed oats so as to avert what might have become a potato famine. It has always been the custom for the Treasury to sanction these loans, and then come to Parliament in order to obtain the necessary funds. They did it two years ago, and the Bill received the assent of this House. I hope that on the present occasion the same reasons will obtain. I beg to move.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2^a—(Lord Denman.)

On Question, Bill read 2^a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.