§ Mr. LOFTUSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, owing to the northern herring fishing being in full operation in July, the attendance of any drifter at the Royal Naval Review would involve heavy financial loss to owner and crew; and, in these circumstances, will he consider recommending financial assistance so as to enable a representative boat from each of the chief herring ports to be present at the review?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIt is a matter of the greatest satisfaction to me that the fishing fleets have been honoured by an invitation to send representative vessels to the Naval Review, and I am very anxious that they should be so represented. I recognise the difficulty of attendance owing to the co incidence of the review and the northern herring fishing season, but I have reason to think that in spite of it the herring fishing fleet, though not necessarily each of the chief herring ports, will be represented. I regret that there are no funds at the disposal of my Department from which compensation could be paid.