§ 8. Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Vice-President of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department has taken into consideration the protest of the Cork City Allotments Committee against the figure at which the rents of the lands acquired compulsorily for food production have been fixed; whether such rents are as high as from £5 to £7 per acre, whereas the lands acquired voluntarily only cost £4 per acre, though more conveniently situated; and whether, in view of the impossibility of working the plots profitably at such rents, the Department will take steps to have the rents reduced?
§ Sir THOMAS RUSSELLThe Department have received a communication from the Committee mentioned to the effect stated, and hare (in accordance with the general principle decided upon in connection with the administration of this portion of the Defence of the Realm Regulations) informed the Committee that the Department's Inspector, in estimating the amount of the rents which should be paid in respect of the lands in question, took into account solely the1122W productive capacity of the soil, having regard to the object for which the lands were compulsorily taken over, i.e., the growing of potatoes and vegetables; and that, in the circumstances they regretted to be unable to see their way to reduce the rents. The rents so fixed are in one case £3 per acre; in another £4; in another £4 2s.; in another £5; in another £6, and in another case £7 per acre. The Department are not in a position to state the rents paid for land acquired voluntarily.