§ Mr. FIELDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received a statement from the Irish Horse Breeders', Owners', and Trainers' Association of Ireland giving figures and pointing out that a further very large reduction in the number of mares mated will take place this year, and that the main reason is that the Government have not given a price for remounts equal to the cost of their production, and that it is less than troop horses imported from the United States and North America have cost; whether he is aware that a continuance of this policy will mean the shrinkage of this branch of Irish farming and likewise diminish the supply of Irish Cavalry remounts; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe Department are aware that a substantial reduction has 1243W taken place in the number of mares served by thoroughbred sires in Ireland since the outbreak of war. For some time past the Department have been in communication with the War Office with regard to the question of Army remounts.