asked the Minister for Finance whether it is proposed to take any steps to empower the Agricultural Credit Corporation to grant loans to farmers who owe not more than two years' arrears of annuities.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited, held on the 4th instant, a special resolution to amend Section 90 of the Articles of Association was approved. The object of the amendment is to give the Board of the Corporation power to make a loan, if it should so think fit, to any person who is in arrears to the extent of not more than four half-yearly instalments with payments due to the Irish Land Commission and the Commissioners of Public Works. The resolution must be submitted for confirmation to a second extraordinary meeting of the Corporation which is to be held on the 20th instant. The Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Finance have informed the Corporation that we will be prepared to assent to the alteration in the articles if the resolution is confirmed.