HC Deb 21 April 1915 vol 71 cc275-6W
Mr. GINNELL

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department has given or offered any encouragement or guidance for the founding of dead meat, tanning, and allied industries in Ireland; and, if so, can he state any results or prospect?

Mr. RUSSELL

During several years past the Department have offered special encouragement to projects for an export trade in beef. Expert assistance and technical advice, as well as financial aid, have been provided in connection with several proposals for the establishment of this trade. Special courses of instruction in the flaying of hides have been given, and an expert is now employed who devotes his whole time to instructing butchers in the flaying of hides and the handling of offals. Exhibitions of products of animal industries have been organised, and information supplied to inquirers interested in these industries. At two centres where aid was given by the Department a dead meat trade has been established. The instruction in hide flaying and the treatment of offals is being widely availed of and much improvement has been effected in these branches of the trade. The prospects for a dead meat trade and industries dependent upon it are distinctly good.