I do not know. That was when we came into office. The Deputy will have to ask the Party opposite why that was done. There is an interdepartmental committee which fixes those rates of wages and they do, as a matter of fact, I am told, fix different rates for different counties. However, the particular complaint made to me at that time was that there were two lots of men, one lot working at 28/- and the other at 24/-. I succeeded in getting that matter put right after some time. That matter was made right probably about May last and up to the present I have not received any further complaints. We usually do not interfere in these matters when there are no complaints. As complaints have been made to-night, I must examine into the matter again and see what wages are being paid. I do not agree with having two rates of wages, one for regular forestry workers and the other for relief workers.
I was asked about the amount of planting in certain areas. Deputy Morrissey asked about Tipperary. There would be about 735 acres planted in Tipperary and Waterford this season, and on the mountain of Forth 162 acres planted this year. The mountain of Forth is a rather difficult place to get going, but we hope to succeed in getting 162 acres planted. We shall at least be able to plant this year, as in former years, 3,500 acres. I think we may exceed that, but if we do not exceed it in planting, we hope to exceed the amount of work done in the way of clearing and fencing. As to the delay in taking over land, which was the only other point raised, I am told there was land offered in East Cork and that there was considerable delay about taking it over. There are very often delays and very long delays. Sometimes, there are, in some of these estates, a variety of claims such as commonages, easements and so on, and it takes a long time to get over the legal difficulties and to get the land taken over. Sometimes, we may feel that if we do not bite too quickly, we will get the land much cheaper than if we appear to be anxious for it. I think, perhaps, that that would be the experience of anybody who wants to buy land or anything else at the present time. If you pretend that you do not want the land at all and let them come to you a second time, you will get it much cheaper than you would have got it if you had taken it the first time. The delay is sometimes due to the price asked and sometimes to legal difficulties, and, where we have been able to get over legal difficulties, and where the price has been fair to us, I find that the land has, in some cases, been taken over very quickly, and practically as quickly as a private individual could take the land. Since the Forestry Department came under my charge, I have seen certain lands taken over as quickly as any private individual would be able to take them over, where we felt that we were getting good value and where we felt there were no legal difficulties.