To ask the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the harassing plight in which many farmers are placed owing to the huge slump in grain prices and the fact that barley has become unsaleable in many counties, any grain selling at present is not making half the cost of production. In face of those conditions could the Minister devise an immediate scheme, whereby those people who cannot dispose of their grain could borrow money on easy terms to purchase pigs or other live stock, to consume their unsaleable grain?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - SLUMP IN GRAIN PRICES.
I am aware of the difficulties facing the farmers who have quantities of malting barley for sale. Although the prospect for such farmers gives cause for anxiety, it will not help the solution of their problem to overstate the position, or to create such a feeling as will lead to something akin to panic. It should be kept in mind that it is not yet known what quantity of barley will be required this season by malsters, brewers and distillers. At present all available information which would be of assistance is being obtained, and until the full extent of the demand for malting barley and the intentions of buyers are known, it would not be advisable for farmers to use sound barley of good malting quality for stock feeding purposes. I cannot, therefore, give any promise that the Government will entertain a scheme of loans such as is suggested in the question. The case of barley growers is a specific example of the general depression in the farming industry which the Commission on Agriculture is now investigating.
I desire to ask the Minister if he is aware that the price of barley is from 10s. to 12s. a barrel.
That is not my information and I would say it depends to a great extent on the quality of the barley. I was not aware that the price of malt barley was 10s. to 12s.
Selling wholesale by the thousand barrels?
That was not my information.