§ Mr. GINNELLasked how many emigrants left Ireland in April and May of the present year as compared with the same period in each of the preceding five years; and, seeing that want of land is the chief cause of the exodus, what practical measures, if any, are the Irish Government taking to accelerate the distribution of untenanted land among working people?
§ Mr. BIRRELLsubmitted the following statement showing the number of emigrants (natives of Ireland) who left Irish ports during the months of April and May in each of the six years, 1905–10, with the average for each of these months in the five years, 1905–9:—
Months. … Number of Emigrants. April, 1905 … 6,067 April, 1906 … 8,451 April, 1907 … 7,814 April, 1908 … 4,163 April, 1909 … 6,558 May, 1905 … 4,351 May, 1906 … 6,150 May, 1907 … 6,712 May, 1908 … 4,228 May 1909 … 4,572 April. 1905–9 Average 6,611 May, 1905–9 5,203 April, 1910 … 6,888 May, 1910 … 5,459 Full particulars with respect to the purchase and resale of untenanted land are given in the Annual Reports of the Estates Commissioners.