§ Mr. FIELDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that the Liverpool and Glasgow egg merchants have been complaining very much against the condition in which Irish eggs have been arriving in these cities during the past season; that many of the egg cases are very badly pilfered in transit and that a large percentage of the eggs are broken, which these merchants assert is caused by the handling of the carrying companies; and whether he is prepared to give instructions to the necessary authorities so that greater care may be taken, and thus ensure these merchants against such losses in the future?
178W
§ Mr. RUSSELLComplaints that consignments of Irish eggs were found on delivery to be damaged, and that eggs-were missing from consignments, have been made to the Irish Department of Agriculture by traders at several centres in Great Britain. The Department recognise the importance of the matter in the interests of the egg industry, and are in constant communication with the carrying companies in regard to it. I may also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Limerick on this subject on 23rd instant.