§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what price the Department will charge for seed potatoes, oats, and wheat; and whether immediate steps will be taken by the posting up of notices in every village in Ireland to notify those who are asked to produce extra tillage how they are to procure seeds and implements, and the prices to be charged for the same.
§ Mr. DUKEThe Department of Agriculture do not sell any seeds. They have arranged with wholesale merchants to supply potatoes and oats for seed purposes to district councils at fixed prices in connection with the Loan Scheme administered through the Local Government Board. These prices have already been announced in detail and published in every urban and rural district in the country. With regard to occupiers and others who do not come within the scheme in question, each county committee, by means of public meetings in rural districts and parishes and advertisements in the local papers and placards, is arranging to put those in need of supplies of seed in touch with others in the same county or outside it who have seed for sale.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the hardships which the labourer suffers, he will see his way to ask the Treasury to bear half the cost of the loan for the supply of seeds and manures to the poor, or will he extend the repayment of the loan over a period of five years?
§ Mr. DUKEAs the pecuniary advantage from the tillage of food crops in 1917 will be received in 1917 by the cultivators, my advisers do not think the hon. Member's proposals are reasonable.