asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state the policy of the Land Commission in regard to the granting of land to workers on estates which are being divided; if the possession of capital by these workers is regarded as a sine qua non before a grant of land will be made, and if he is aware that many workers are not in a position to provide such capital, and whether there is any fund available from which money can be provided for the purpose of supplying working capital to such men.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LAND COMMISSION AND ESTATE WORKERS.
Mr. HOGAN
In the distribution of lands by the Land Commission due regard is had to labourers living on the lands whom the Land Commission consider competent to work lands. The Land Act provides that the Land Commission in making allotments must be satisfied that a proposed allottee is competent to work land and that it is his intention to do so and not to sell, let, or assign it.
The possession of capital is not a sine qua non but is obviously a very important element that must be taken into account when considering the suitability of a proposed allottee. The Land Commission have no funds out of which a loan could be made for the purchase of stock.
Is the Minister not aware that it is only in very rare cases workers on estates that are being divided are in possession of capital? In the carrying out of the provisions of the Land Act in regard to the establishment of such men in holdings, is it the intention to make provision in the way of capital for these men? Is the Minister aware that false statements may be made to the Land Commission by these men in an effort to suggest they possess capital which in reality they do not possess?
Mr. HOGAN
When the Land Commission give a holding to an agricultural labourer they can be quite certain that he knows how to work the land, because he is a competent agricultural labourer. They give him a holding, they build a house for him and make up the fences. He has that free. A labourer who gets an economic holding has five hundred or six hundred pounds' worth of property fit to be worked straight away. In addition, he has what he always had, the ability to work elsewhere until he gets a certain amount of capital that will help him to stock the land. Capital is important; but you can regard the labourer having three or four sons willing to work as being in possession of capital, even though that capital is not money.
Is the Minister aware that his inspectors do not hold that view and that they look on it as indispensable that a labourer should have capital, no matter how well he can work or how many sons he may possess?
Mr. HOGAN
I would be surprised if the inspectors took the view that capital is essential. It is important, but it is not essential. I can understand a man getting land who has no capital and making a success out of the venture, and I can equally understand a man with capital failing entirely. Capital, of course, is decidedly important.
Will the Minister make it known to his inspectors that capital is not essential, although it is important?
Mr. HOGAN
I do not think that is necessary.