Pretty well everything that could be said about this motion has been said, so I will not detain the House more than a few minutes. I will not move the adjournment to-day. I am sorry I have no direct representatives here, but I have an interesting document which was signed by two Cork Deputies, giving their promises to the electors:
"The land annuities will be permanently reduced by half, and the instalments which fell due during the present economic depression will not be collected. The land of Ireland belongs to the Irish farmers who fought for it."
That is signed by Daniel Corkery and Seán Moylan. The Minister for Finance described, in very rhetorical fashion, my annihilation at a recent Ard-Fheis when I moved for complete de-rating. The Minister for Finance, when he is running away from some position he took up himself, likes to be accompanied, whether the person accompanying him be friend or foe. He has no comrades from our side in this retreat. Complete de-rating was not turned down by our Party. It was referred to a body for further consideration. This motion condemns the action of the Government in reducing the total of the grants payable in relief of rates on agricultural land. To sum up the position, a few figures, and a few figures only, are needed. Our Government had taxes imposed for the relief of rates on agricultural land. The produce of these taxes was £2,200,000. To the query of the Minister for Industry and Commerce as to where the money was to come from, the answer obviously is "From the taxes imposed to produce that £2,200,000." These taxes operated last year and the Government had the benefit of that portion which was with-held—£448,000. That money should have been given for the purpose for which it was collected. Another reason is that, last year, the Government collected, or funded, annuities amounting to £3,000,000. They either got that money or it is owing to them. In connection with this matter, I think I should quote a statement made by Mr. de Valera on 12th November, 1929. He said then:—
"The farmers in the Six Counties and in England were relieved of their rates. Mr. Blythe had told them that it would be impossible to find the money to de-rate agricultural land in the Free State.... If we get control, we will not pay that money (the land annuities) which we believe is the definite property of the Free State Exchequer to England and, out of that £3,000,000, £2,000,000 could be made available for de-rating. We are prepared to put the farmers of this part of Ireland on a level with those with whom they have to compete in the Six Counties and in England. It is madness for us to be giving employment to the stranger when our own people are out of employment."
That was a definite promise of de-rating.
