asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that in a considerable number of cases there is a delay of from six to eight weeks before payment of bounties is made to exporters of eggs, poultry, pork, etc.; that this delay greatly handicaps men of limited resources, and if he will take steps to ensure that such payments will be expedited in future.

There have been instances of delay in the payment of export bounties on certain agricultural commodities. The delays, which are regretted, were unavoidable owing to the extraordinary pressure of work in my Department for some time past. Steps have now been taken to expedite such payments and eliminate as far as possible causes of complaint in this respect in future.