§ Mr. DELANYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will give the names and addresses of what is stated to be a representative body of prominent agriculturists called together by the Department to fix the price of hay requisitioned for military purposes in consultation with the Army purchasing officer?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe military authorities, having intimated to the Department that they desired an opportunity of conferring with representative farmers and others, as to the purchase of hay in Ireland for Army purposes, the Department invited the following to a conference at their offices:—Mr. Hugh T. Barrie, M.P Coleraine; Mr. John Bolger, Ferns; Colonel Sir N. T. Everard, H.M.L., Navan; Mr. William McDonald, Carrigaline, county Cork; Mr. J. Willington, Birr; Sir Josslyn Gore Booth, Bart., D.L., Sligo; Mr. W R. Ronaldson, Leixlip, county Dublin; Mr. Richard O'Malley, Woodlawn, Santry, county Dublin. Of these the three last-mentioned were unable to attend. The 1633W following attended on the invitation of the military authorities: Mr. Edward O'Malley, Woodlands, Santry, county Dublin; Mr. P. Fitzgerald, Blackhall Street, Dublin. The members of the conference did not, as stated in the question, fix a price at which hay would be requisitioned for military purposes. They merely advised as to the prices at which they believed that hay could be obtained voluntarily in their respective districts.