§ Mr. JESSE COLLINGSasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he can state what advances have been made or promised to tobacco growers in Ireland; whether such advances are in the form of gifts or loans, 397W if the latter, what terms, interest, and sinking fund are proposed for repayment; and if he can state approximately the value of the tobacco grown in Ireland during the year 1911 or 1912 and about the cost per pound to the producer?
§ Mr. RUSSELLA sum of £6,000 per annum has been placed on the Department's estimates since the year 1909–10, inclusive, to enable the Department to make Grants to certain approved experimenters in tobacco growing. These Grants, which are at the rate of £50 per acre cropped, are in lieu of a rebate of duty of 1s. per pound on their tobacco allowed to the experimenters for five years prior to 1909–10. The current year, 1913–14, is the last in which provision for these Grants is to be made. An advance by way of Grant from the Development Fund of £3,500 for ten years has been sanctioned for the purpose of further experiments in the production of tobacco. The scheme for the administration of this Grant has not been finally settled, and no payment by way of loan or otherwise has been made out of it. The value of the tobacco grown in Ireland in the year 1911 by recognised experimenters (including portion of the crop still unsold) is calculated to be £3,204, exclusive of duty. The Department have no information as to the value of the tobacco grown on the area (1 acre and 31 perches) cropped by persons other than recognised experimenters. The cost to the producer of the tobacco grown in 1911 on the area (99½ acres) in respect of which detailed accounts have been received averaged 7d. per pound. Information as to the value and cost of production of the 1912 crop is not yet available.