53 Questions. purchase being 21.1. The Commissioners | Ireland whether he can state the full have no information as to the sales particulars of the plans adopted by the effected by private treaty. The Congested Local Government Board and the DeDistricts Board have since the passing of partment of Agriculture in Ireland for the Land Act of 1903, purchased seven providing seed in districts in which the estates in the county Sligo, for sms potato crop failed last year. amounting to £101,178, being an average MR. BIRRELL: The Local Governof twenty-three and a quarter years purchase of the rentals including the estiment Board are affording employment in mated annual value of the unteninted lands. distressed areas to those persons, fortunately not very numerous this year, who are too poor to purchase seed for cash, or to obtain it on loan, and arrangements are in progress which will enable such persons to expend their earnings in purchasing imported seed. The Departof Agriculture and Technical ment Instruction, which has no functions in regard to relief of distress, has schemes at work in the western districts for facilitating a change of seed for the potato and other crops. These schemes include arrangements for the sale on favourable terms of limited quantities of good seed, the produce of which is intended to be reserved for seed purposes the following year. In addition, loans are being made through Agricultural Banks to enable occupiers to purchase seed potatoes with the advantages of the terms which are available for cash payMR. BIRRELL: I am informed that ments and bulked orders. The Departthe Department are aware that experiment assists by inspection, as far as ments in the cultivation of beet have been made on small plots of land in Ireland and that in some cases the beet has been found to be rich in sugar. The Depart state that they have satisfied themselves by careful inquiry that it is not possible to guarantee that beet would be cultivated in any one district in Ireland over a sufficiently large area to warrant the expenditure of the large capital sums necessary for the building and equipment of a sugar factory. They believe also that beet could not be made as remunerative a crop as other root crops now grown in Ireland, and on these grounds do not think they would be justified in encouraging the growing of beet in this country or in undertaking an experiment of the nature suggested. I will send the hon. Member a statement giving details which could not well be included in the limits of an oral Answer. Beet Growing in Ireland. MR. O'DOWD: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that recent experiments made on plots of inferior land in the West of Ireland and elsewhere, have shown that the saccharine matter in Irish-grown beet almost doub'es that of bee grown in Germany, and that the crop can be cultivated almost as easily as any other root crop; and, if so, whether | it is his intention to impress on the Department of Agriculture the importance of encouraging the growth of beet-root in Ireland, and the advisability of experimenting on a practical scale with the view of producing sugar from Irish beet on a paying basis. ment practicable, of the seed purchased under Dromagh Untenanted Lands. MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received any recent communications from Mr. W. N. Leader, J.P., D.L., Dromagh, county Cork, in reference to the proposed sale of his untenanted land, nearly 2,000 acres; and whether, in view of the anxiety of many evicted tenants in the locality to acquire holdings, and of deserving labourers to suitable allotments under the MR. DILLON: I beg to ask the Chief | Labourers Act of 1906, the CommisSecretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of sioners will instruct their inspector to Seed Potato Supplies for Distressed Districts. secure visit the estate and make inquiry, under the provisions of the Land Act of 1903. MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners have not received any recent communication from Mr. W. Leader. The Commissioners will instruct their inspector to make full inquiries as to the wants and circumstances of the neighbourhood before they sanction any arrangement as to the untenanted land on the estate. MR. FLYNN: Will the Estates Commissioners give power to their inspector to initiate negotiations in regard to this estate and thus avoid unnecessary delay ? MR. BIRRELL: I will look into that. Irish Department of Agriculture. MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commission which is inquiring into the Department of Agriculture in Ireland finished taking evidence last November; what is the cause of the delay in the issue of the Report of the Commission; and when it may be expected. MR. BIRRELL: I am informed that the Committee held its last public sitting for the reception of evidence on 23rd November last, and is now engaged in the preparation of its Report which, it is hoped, will be ready in May next. The evidence taken at the inquiry occupied forty-nine sittings, and extends to some thousand pages of print. The Committee inform me that no avoidable delay will take place in the issue of the Report. MR. JOHN REDMOND: Does the right hon. Gentleman think an interval of six months for considering the Report after closing the evidence is reasonable? Will he not use his influence to expedite the Report, seeing that a discussion of the Department without it would be difficult? MR. BIRRELL: I will see the chairman again and represent to him the views of the hon. Member. Galway and Mayo Agricultural Banks. MR. DILLON: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can give the number of agricultural banks in the Connemara Division of Galway and the East Mayo Division of Mayo respectively; whether he will state the present condition of these banks; and whether it is proposed to use the agricultural banks as the sole machinery for distributing potato seed in distressed districts in Ireland. MR. BIRRELL: I am informed that the Department have no records at their disposal which would enable them to state with accuracy the exact number of agricultural banks in a particular Parliamentary Division, but they believe it would be approximately correct to say that there are six agricultural banks in the Connemara Division of Galway, and seven in the East Mayo Division of Mayo. The condition of these banks on the whole is reported to be satisfactory. With a view to encouraging the introduction of fresh seed potatoes and oats, the Department have arranged to grant special loans repayable in one year to a limited number of agricultural credit societies in the poorer districts of the west. The Department's action is quite independent of the matter of the relief of distress, which forms no part of their functions. As regards the stated in reply to the hon. Member's last paragraph of the Question, I have earlier Question the measures proposed to be taken for distributing potato seed. American Gooseberry Mildew. beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordMR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid): I Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the damage being wrought in Ireland by the spread of the American gooseberry mildew; whether the steps taken by the effect in checking the spread of the Department of Agriculture have had any disease; and whether the Department will consider the establishment of a system of inspection of nuserymen's stocks of gooseberry bushes and cuttings, so as to prevent the distribution of diseased plants. MR. BIRRELL: The Department of Agriculture are aware that the American gooseberry mildew exists in certain counties in Ireland, and have taken all possible steps to check the spread of the disease, which it is hoped will produce the desired effect. The Department have already had the stocks in the principal nurseries inspected, and have advised the destruction of such bushes as were found to be infected. Mr. Burrowes' Londonderry Estate. MR. LONSDALE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the remarks of Mr. Justice Ross, in the Land Judge's Court, on 28th January, in reference to the estate of George Burrowes, of county Londonderry; and whether, in view of the statement by the Land Judge that the Estates Commissioners have been taking an utterly illegal course in revising, without evidence, agreements arrived at between landlords and tenants within the zones, he intends to direct the Estates Commissioners to conform to the law. MR. BIRRELL: The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, I am informed that the Estates Commissioners are of opinion that the learned Land Judge's observations were based on misconceptions, and that they propose to take such action as will give an opportunity for a final decision on the point. Alleged Outrage at Cloghroe. CAPTAIN CRAIG: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any arrests have been made in connection with the recent dynamite outrage perpetrated near Cloghroe, in the Parliamentary division of Mid Cork. Crime in County Clare. *CAPTAIN CRAIG: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many cases of outrage or MR. BIRRELL: The police authorities attempted outrage, in which firearms are carefully investigating this alleged were used, took place in the county of outrage. No arrest has been made. Clare during the month of January, 1907; in how many cases were persons wounded; and have any, and how many, persons been arrested in connection with such outrages or attempted outrages. MR. BIRRELL: The Inspector-General MR. FLYNN: Is there not some doubt in the minds of the Constabulary as to whether this outrage occurred at all? MR. BIRRELL: There is some doubt of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs as to the circumstances. MR. MOORE: Is it not the fact that the victim has been boycotted for fifteen years? MR. KILBRIDE (Ki'dare, S.): Pending the trial of the prisoners will the Irish Government see that no prominent 'politicians make speeches calculated to prejudice the cases ? MR. BIRRELL: I have no information as to that. MR. MOORE: Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire? MR. BIRRELL: Yes. County Donegal Fishery By-laws. MR. HUGH LAW (Donegal, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution of the County Council of Donegal regarding a by-law proposed to be enacted by the Department of Agriculture restricting the fishermen's rights of public fishing in the ocean off certain portions of the coast of county Donegal; and whether, in view of the protests of this and of other public bodies, the Lord-Lieutenant will refuse his sanction to the proposed by-law. MR. BIRRELL: The resolution in question has been received, but the proposed by-law to which it refers has not yet been submitted to the Lord-Lieutenant in Council for approval. In accordance with the invariable practice, all persons who are opposed to such a by-law will have an opportunity, before the by-law is sanctioned, of appearing in person, or by counsel, before the Committee of the Privy Council. aware Moonlighting at Craughwell. MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is that a party of moonlighters carrying arms has lately attacked the house of Mrs. Ryan in the village of Craughwell, county Galway, into which they fired four shots; that Mrs. Ryan's residence is within twenty yards of the police barracks; and that some of the pellets, after passing through the back and front windows of the house, lodged in the walls of the police barrack; and whether the police have arrested anyone in connection with the matter. MR. BIRRELL: The Inspector-General reports that at 8.20 p.m. on the 8th instant one revolver shot was fired from the rear of Mrs. Ryan's house at Craughwell. The bullet penetrated the window of a small room at the back of the house and lodged in the wall of the room. At the same time a large stone was thrown through a window on the other side of the door into another small room. Mrs. Ryan's house is opposite the barrack, but no pellets struck the barrack or passed through the front windows of Mrs. Ryan's house. The police are inquiring into the matter, but up to the present have no evidence to justify an arrest. New Inn Branch of the United Irish MR. CHARLES CRAIG: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at a meeting of the New Inn branch of the United Irish League, in county Galway, lately a resolution was passed calling on all graziers who hold land in the parish to surrender the same by May next and not to block the people any longer from getting the land; and, seeing that it was decided to adopt proper measures towards graziers who did not comply with the resolution, and also to publish a list of graziers who were to give up their lands, whether, in the event of an attempt being made to use boycotting or intimidation to enforce this resolution, he will employ the forces at his disposal to protect these graziers in the exercise of their legal rights. MR. BIRRELL: A report of the meeting of the New Inn Branch of the League is published in the Connaught Leader of 16th instant, from which it appears that resolutions in the terms mentioned in the Question were passed. The police will give all necessary protection to all persons requiring it in this district. Leitrim Extra Police Charges. MR. LONSDALE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Leitrim County Council have refused to pay the sum of £34 14s. 9d. demanded by the Inspector General as a moiety of the cost of extra police sent to the vicinity of Ballinaglera to protect T. Brady during the period ending 30th September, 1906; whether a further expense of the same nature has since been incurred, and is still going on; and what steps are to be taken to enforce the demand. MR. BIRRELL: The Answer to the first two inquiries is in the affirmative. The statutory certificate, the issue of which is a preliminary step for the recovery of the debt, has been forwarded to the county council, and no further action can be taken in the matter until after the next meeting of the council, on 15th May. *MR. DOLAN: Has not this man for whom this protection was provided been prosecuted for by the constable protecting him, and did not he and the constable protecting him, after knocking an old man down, drive away without assisting him? *MR. SPEAKER: That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper. River Deel Salmon Fisheries. MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a weir has been erected on the River Deel, near Askeaton, in the county of Limerick, which is a bar to the salmon coming up the river in the spring season owing to the fact that there is a vacuum between the wall and the water flowing over the weir, in consequence of which the fish stay in the reaches of the river below the weir, thereby creating a valuable private interest in the river there; and whether, in the public interest, he will cause an inquiry to be made into this matter, with the view to having a queen's gap made in the weir to facilitate the passage of the fish up the river. MR. BIRRELL: I understand that the circumstances are practically as stated in the Question. The Department will see what can be done to facilitate the ascent of salmon over the weir. Feale Fishery. MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the decrease in the number of fish in the Feale is due to the erection of a weir perpendicular to the bed of the river at Listowel in which the conservators of the time failed to have inserted a fish gap to facilitate the passage of the fish to the upper waters, and not to any other cause; and whether, having regard to this fact, he will take steps to have the matter investigated so that a queen's gap may be made in the weir to enable the fish to go without difficulty up the river. MR. BIRRELL: The Department in form me that a fish pass has recently been constructed in the weir in question. The Department assisted financially and with professional advice. Maigne Fishery. MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that net fishermen in a reserved part of the Maigne to which they have the right to fish from custom, near Adare, in the county of Limerick, are under a by-law made some time ago confined to fishing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fishing season, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, and that, in consequence, if the fishermen remain fishing at the extreme end of this reserve until the allowed time in the evenings they cannot bring back their net in the boat; and whether owing to the hardship of this regulation under which the men must bring back the net on their shoulders along the river bank, a distance of three miles, he will take steps to see that they may be allowed to return to the landing place with their net in the boat. |