§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware of the need existing in Ireland for an immediate addition to the number of scutch-mill workers; and whether, seeing that this need cannot be adequately met by the training of fifteen scutch-mill foremen, the Department will offer inducements to small farmers' sons to enter as apprentices in the 600 mills in Ulster, which are short of hands, where they could be trained under the superintendence of the flax instructors working in their respective districts?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are aware that there is a scarcity of trained scutch-mill workers in Ireland, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 18th instant to his previous question on this subject. Owing to the condition of their funds at present the Department regret that they cannot see their way to act in the manner now suggested.