§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that a firm, called Thomas and Co., have been extensively selling worthless rubbish as manure in many districts in Ireland, and that a number of cases brought by the firm against purchasers were recently dismissed with costs by His Honour Judge Doyle, in the Mayo County Court, on the ground of fraud on the part of the plaintiffs; and will he cause warnings to be circulated against the purchase of such manures, and, as the same firm sells the same stuff in Devon and other districts in 1140W England, will he call the attention of the English Department to the matter?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are aware that the firm mentioned has been selling inferior manures in Ireland. Proceedings instituted by the firm for the recovery of the cost of manures supplied by them in county Mayo resulted in the dismissal of the cases with costs. Evidence as to the inferior quality of the manures was given in these cases by official experts. The Department have issued posters in each of the last three years warning farmers against purchasing low grade manures, and their agricultural staff, inspectorial and educational, have constantly warned farmers to the same effect. The Department have learned that the same firm sells manures in England. They have no reason to assume that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries are not cognisant of the proceedings of the firm, but the Department will draw the Board's attention to the proceedings in Court against this firm.