§ Mr. CONDONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the last Fethard Fair livestock which were on the loading bank. 877W at 7 a.m. were not loaded into wagons until 3 p.m.; whether he is aware that some cattle at the previous fair were booked at 8 o'clock in the morning, not loaded until 3.30 p.m., did not arrive at Maryborough until 6 o'clock the following morning, a distance of 50 miles; whether he will call upon the Department of Agriculture to report upon these complaints?
The HON. MEMBER also asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the siding and loading bank provided by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland is inadequate to meet livestock requirements at large fairs, causing much suffering, injury, and deterioration in value; and whether he will have inquiry made and take measures to compel the company to provide the necessary accommodation.
§ Mr. DUKEI will answer this question and the question addressed to my right hon. Friend together. The Department of Agriculture have no information as to the correctness or otherwise of the statement made in the question, but their inspector reports that five special trains with livestock left Fethard Station on the occasion of that fair, the first at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 2.55 p.m., in addition to a passenger train at 12.5 p.m., which also conveyed livestock, and that a total of 175 wagon-loads of livestock were despatched from the station on the occasion. As regards the previous fair the Department understand that there was considerable delay in forwarding certain livestock to Maryborough and other stations north of it. This delay was mainly due to an engine having broken down upon two occasions and no other locomotive being available until Thurles was reached. The railway company explain that they have great difficulty in keeping their locomotives in proper repair owing to circumstances arising from the War. The accommodation for dealing with livestock at Fethard Station on the occasions of large fairs is, I understand, inadequate for the purpose, and the attention of the railway company will be drawn to the matter.