§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the continued and wasteful felling throughout Ireland of immature plantations and woods and also of trees around farmhouses and in other situations in rural districts, which ought to be preserved both for shelter and ornament, he will appoint a small Committee to consider whether the restrictions as to felling contained in the Land Purchase Act of 1909 should be extended to all plantations, woods, and trees in Ireland?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLWhile the Department are fully alive to the importance of preventing the unnecessary cutting of trees in Ireland, they do not think that the appointment of a Committee, as suggested, would result in obtaining any information other than what is at present available on the subject. The question of excessive felling in woods and plantations recently formed the subject of an exhaustive inquiry by the Departmental Committee on Irish Forestry. The Department are doing all that is open to them—by advice through their instructors and otherwise—to restrict, unnecessary felling and to encourage replanting.