§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that on 8th September last an industrial and labourers exhibition, called the Brighter Homes Exhibition, was held at Athenry; that invitations were sent to and received by the Agricultural Department, Inspector Gallagher and the manager, Mr. M'Gaw, to attend the exhibition; if so, whether they attended and co-operated with the local people to make it a success; and, if not, why did they not do so, and what explanation, if any, did they give to the Agricultural Department?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are not aware whether the officers mentioned received an invitation. They were not instructed to attend.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that some of the officials, farm labourers, and students attended the Brighter Homes Exhibition at Athenry; that those who did so were reported by Inspector Gallagher; that an investigation was held by a Mr. J. R. Campbell into the charges brought against them; whether any of these officials have been transferred and censured as a result; if so, what are their names; whether he will have a copy of the report, the minutes of the investigation, and the decision laid upon the Table of the Houses; and whether any instructions were given, either verbally or otherwise, to these officials to boycott the local exhibition?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLOn the occasion referred to the officers who were in charge of the agricultural station, in the absence of the manager, without having asked for or received authority from the manager or the department, permitted the apprentices to absent themselves from work, and that at a moment when harvesting operations were pressing. The officials in question were very properly warned that serious notice would be taken of any repetition of such action. No investigation such as is referred to was held, and no one has been transferred from Athenry on account of the incident. The reply to the last portion of the question is in the negative.
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§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that recently a public meeting was held at Athenry at which resolutions were passed relating to the present official condition and general management of the Athenry agricultural station; if copies of the same were received by the Department of Agriculture at Dublin indicating unpleasantness if the present condition of affairs were continued there; and what action, if any, has been taken by the Department of Agriculture to remove those grievances and work the station on popular lines?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department have received the resolution said to have been adopted at a public meeting held recently at Athenry in regard to the work of the agricultural station in that district. They note the threat contained in the question, and have only to say that they decline to allow any interference of the kind indicated with agricultural work carried on by the Department in that or any other place.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will give a Return showing the names of the officials in charge of the agricultural stations at Athenry, Ballyhaise, Glasnevin, and Clonakilty, the religious persuasion of each, the area under cultivation in each place, the area (if any) devoted to forestry, the number of agricultural labourers employed at each place, and the rate of wages paid, respectively, at these stations?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLI do not consider that any public advantage would be served by giving the Return referred to.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that at a conference held at Athenry on the 1st January, 1908, presided over by Captain Shaw Taylor, inquiries were made into matters affecting the cause of the friction between the Department and the people of Athenry, and the grievances of the people fully discussed, as well as the views of those responsible for the management of the local station; that a settlement was arrived at which was embodied in a resolution and presented to the Department by Captain Taylor, who gave an assurance at the time that there would be no further interference with or disturbance of the work in connection with Athenry station; and, seeing that since that time 528W the compact entered into has been faithfully observed by the people, whether it is the intention of the Department to continue its unpopular policy in Athenry for any longer period?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department have no dispute with the people of Athenry, and they entered into no compact with Captain Shaw Taylor, or anyone else undertaking to speak on behalf of those who have attempted to disturb the work at the station by outrage or otherwise.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will state on what grounds he has refused to give Mr. Dalton, a nurseryman, at Ballyreaghan, Ballinalee, county Longford, a certificate scheduling his nursery as one from which local committees might purchase tree stocks; did he send an inspector to inspect this man's stock last year when it was passed as good and sound; and why such should not be done this year also, with the object of spending the people's money in their own country and not sending to other places for tree stocks?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLAt the beginning of each season the Department arrange for the inspection of the principal nurseries in Ireland with a view of ascertainng whether the fruit and other trees which will be offered for sale are of good quality and free from disease. The list of such nurseries approved by the Department is then prepared for the information of the County Committee of Agriculture, who, however, sometimes decide to place orders for certain kinds of trees with small local nurseries. Small nurseries such as that of Mr. Dalton's are not inspected as a matter of course, but if a County Committee accepts a tender from such a nursery a special inspection is made by the Department. The Longford County Committee recently decided to accept three tenders for trees, one of which was from Mr. Dalton. This nursery was accordingly inspected by the Department's inspector on the 25th inst. The stock of forest trees at present in this nursery is so limited that the Department cannot see their way to place it on the approved list for all Ireland, but no objection will be offered to the purchase by the County Longford Committee of Scotch fir and spruce from this nursery.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary what is the number, if any, of specially reported cases by the 529W police arising out of the friction between the people of the Athenry district and the Department of Agriculture owing to the manner in which the work has been carried out during the period between 1st January, 1907, and 30th November, 1909?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the Constabulary authorities that between the dates mentioned the police have reported five cases of intimidation or injury to property which are believed to be the outcome of the desire of certain lawless persons in Athenry to compel the Department to surrender part of their farm in the neighbourhood.