§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the Wexford tobacco growers are fully equipped for curing the leaf; is he aware that they have considerable experience in the work of growing and curing tobacco; are they entitled to better terms than new beginners; and if he can state what terms they are going to get under the new scheme?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Wexford Tobacco Growers Society have been provided by the Department with the use of a tobacco barn, which is capable of curing satisfactorily the produce of not more than twelve statute acres annually. The Wexford growers have considerable experience in the work of growing tobacco, but the curing of their crop has in the past been done mainly under the direction of a paid employé. From one point of view the Wexford growers are not entitled to any better terms than beginners, inasmuch as with the experience they have already had they should be able to produce a more valuable crop. The Department are not yet aware of the terms they are to get under the new scheme. It is understood that negotiations are in progress between the experimenter and the Wexford growers on this point.