asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the accounts of the national stud and farm which show a net loss of £25,231 for the two years ended 31st March, 1934; whether he will request the Irish Free State Government to encourage the use of the stud more actively than they have during the last two years; and whether, if such support is not forthcoming, he will take the necessary steps to secure that the stud and farm are transferred to England?

The Secretary of State for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas):

I am aware of the losses shown in the accounts for the national stud and farm for the two years ending 31st December, 1933, but I understand that the accounts for the year ending the 31st December, 1934, will show a much more satisfactory position. The losses to which my hon. Friend refers are, I understand, in no way attributable to the reasons suggested in the second part of his question. As regards the last part of his question, I would refer him to a reply given by the Minister of Agriculture on the 26th July last in which he said that he did not consider the removal of the national stud to this country to be practicable.

Has my right hon. Friend asked Mr. de Valera to pay some part of the loss incurred in improving blood stock?

Mr. THOMAS:

When you deal with horses, the whole House realises how difficult it is.

Lieut.-Colonel C. MacANDREW:

Does my right hon. Friend think that the policy of replacing the older mares by younger mares is being carried out to a proper extent?

Mr. THOMAS:

I am no judge of either old mares or young mares.

Is it not a fact that the supervision of the training centre by the Irish Free State Government has been very adequately carried on?

Mr. THOMAS:

Oh, yes. I think the results will prove that the Irish are capable judges of blood stock.

Lieut.-Colonel MacANDREW:

Will my right hon. Friend make some inquiry about the mares if he knows nothing about them?

Mr. THOMAS:

No, I leave that to my hon. and gallant Friend.