HC Deb 10 August 1916 vol 85 c1245W
Mr. FFRENCH

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Irish millers, brewers, shopkeepers, etc., are large buyers of Irish hay; if he is aware that these people must sell their horses and cannot carry on their business owing to the action of the Government in commandeering the whole of the Irish hay crop; and whether, seeing that the Government only require a fraction of the Irish hay crop, he will see that some arrangement is made whereby other purchasers can obtain supplies that are not required by the Government?

Mr. FORSTER

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. The War Office possesses information showing that large quantities of hay have now been released for the use of civil consumers in Ireland.