asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of penalties being imposed on farmers who are taking tillage conacre by having an additional penalty imposed upon them of £2 per acre where they propose growing wheat, and if the Minister has power to prohibit this in the national interests.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conacre for Wheat.
I am not aware of the practice to which the Deputy refers, but if he will give me particulars of the cases he has in mind I am prepared to consider the question of taking action on the lines suggested.
Mr. Walsh
I shall do so.
Is it the policy of the Government to encourage the conacre system?
That is a separate question.
I understand that the purpose of Deputy Walsh's question is to inquire whether difficulties in the way of setting land tor conacre will be removed and I gathered from the Minister's reply that it is the Government's intention to take what steps they can to encourage the setting of land in conacre. That is a most objectionable form of landlordism and I should like to know if this is part of the Government's policy?
There is a difference between encouraging conacre and objecting to conacre on a very bad system.
I hope that the champion of conacre in this House will explain that in the country.