46 State Aid to Agrmdtxire in Irelmnl. 



be applied by them, subject to the approval of the Depart- 

 ment, partly to schemes of agriculture and partly to schemes 

 of technical instruction. 



In the early years the Department recouped County Com- 

 mittees one-half the cost of each piece of work, except in the 

 case of a number of the poorer counties, whose proportion was 

 slightly increased. At present the Department's contribution 

 is three-fifths of the actual cost of each scheme undertaken in 

 the poorer counties, and five-ninths in all other counties. But 

 these payments do not represent the whole of the Department's 

 contribution towards the cost of the work done in connection 

 with county schemes. For example, in connection with the 

 live stock schemes, the Department pays the whole of the fees 

 and expenses of the judges and veterinary surgeons who act 

 at the local mare shows, the fees and expenses of the judges 

 in connection with the award of prizes for good farming and 

 well-kept cottages, the whole salary of itinerant instructors 

 in agriculture, the cost of pioneer lectures, and of special 

 investigations and inquiries. One instance will illustrate how 

 the Department's grant is divided amongst the County Com- 

 mittees. The vote for live stock improvement is made 

 annually in August, and amounts to the sum which the 

 Department estimate may be usefully spent on this form 

 of agricultural improvement. The sum voted is a round 

 figure, and is usually about 15,000?. per annum. The division 

 is made by the Department on the basis of the valuation of 

 the county, as well as on the basis of the number of live 

 stock in the county. Each County Committee, therefore, has 

 at its disposal what is known as a " joint fund," i.e. a sum 

 made up of its rate levied for the purpose of the Act, and the 

 Department's grant. The financial minutes sent to the Depart- 

 ment after each meeting of the County Committee show all 

 payments made out of the "joint fund." The amount of the 

 Department's contribution is then calculated and forwarded to 

 the Committees. Any unexpended balance of the rate remains 

 with the Committee ; an unexpended balance of the Depart- 

 ment's fund is retained and invested for the purpose of 

 erecting and equipping agricultural institutions. In cases 

 where the funds of a Committee fall short, the Department 

 usually make an advance before its financial minutes are 

 submitted, in order to enable urgent claims to be paid. Super- 

 vision of the details of this expenditure cannot be undertaken 

 by the Agricultural Board. It therefore rests with the Depart- 

 ment to discharge this duty. If they use their control 

 unreasonably, they are liable to be taken to task by the Board, 

 who ai-e themselves members of County Committees, and to 

 whom the local representatives would complain if they were 



