asked the Minister for Finance if he can bring before the directors of the Agricultural Credit Corporation the importance of their commencing business as soon as possible, there being now approximately only eight weeks available for the purchase of stores for fattening for the current season.

The directors of the Agricultural Credit Corporation inform me that they fully appreciate that this is a most important period of the year for agriculture, and realise the necessity for dealing with applications for loans at the earliest possible date and with the greatest expedition attainable. They assure me that there will be no avoidable delay in commencing business.