§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether district councils in Ireland charged under the food production scheme with providing seeds and manures for small farmers and labourers will be allowed, where they so desire, to purchase such seeds locally as they consider most suitable for their district; whether they will be permitted to arrange to let each man who tills buy on their authority suitable manure up to a fixed amount from recognised merchants, and more especially as these manures can be bought from local merchants at from £2 to £3 per ton cheaper than has to be paid under the scheme of the Department?
§ Mr. DUKERural district councils requiring loans for the purchase of seeds and manures must, under the approved scheme, obtain the supplies through the Department of Agriculture. The approved scheme has been framed by the Department so as not to interfere with the market for local supplies, or to produce competition and inflation of prices. Experience has shown this to be necessary.