HC Deb 15 July 1914 vol 64 cc1937-8W
Mr. GINNELL

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will give a botanical and chemical analysis of deep peat and surface peat, respectively, taken from the Bog of Allen and from any other large bog in Ireland, with a view to comparison with analyses of the peats of other countries from which fuel is profitably manufactured?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL

As at present advised, I am not prepared to authorise expenditure in the direction suggested.

Mr. GINNELL

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will specify what the Department consider obstacles to the successful commercial manufacture of peat fuel in Ireland, other than the opposition of the coal interest to a fair trial of peat manufacture?

Mr. RUSSELL

This question seems to be based on the assumption that the Department's view is that peat fuel cannot be successfully manufactured in Ireland on a commercial scale. The Department have not expressed any opinion on this question, and do not propose to.