§ Mr. STANIERasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what foreign commissions have been buying horses, suitable for Army purposes, in Ireland this year; and if he can say how many have been bought and the average price paid for them?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLAccording to the Returns furnished to this Department, the number of horses exported from Ireland on behalf of foreign Governments between the 29th December last and the 24th May was 1,809—namely, to Belgium, 461; the Netherlands, 263; Italy, 685; and Switzerland, 400. It is assumed that these exports were intended for army purposes. The Department have no official knowledge of any commissions such as are referred to in the question, nor do they possess information as to the average prices paid for the animals.