Vol. 7 No. 23
I move:—
That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas of any expenses incurred in carrying into effect any Act of the present Session to regulate the export of eggs and for that purpose to make provision for the registration of premises concerned in the export of eggs, and to provide for other matters relating to the sale of eggs.
I think this is probably the best occasion to deal with a question concerning the finances of this Bill. I would like to ask if there has been any estimate made of the probable cost of administration, and what is the probable revenue from the fees to be imposed on the exporters? It has been represented to me that the proposed 2d. for each thirty dozen will impose an excessive burthen——
The figure is 1d.
It would impose an excessive burthen upon a considerable number of exporters, and that the method of estimating, while it might not seem heavy per dozen eggs, will not be dealt with in that light by exporters. It will be rather dealt with as one of the ordinary charges and expenses of the trade, and will be excessive. As an instance, I take one trader who may export about one hundred cases per week. It will mean a charge, above his ordinary outgoings, of £1 per week. The position of that trader is comparatively small. I do not know what basis there is for this charge, but I think it well to raise the matter now, and hear from the Minister some particulars regarding the possible expenses, and the backs that ought to bear them.
The amount that will be realised as a result of this charge will be something between £6,000 and £7,000. The total cost of this scheme, including the amount at present spent on the egg services, will be something like £19,000. A considerable amount of that is being spent now, so that when the £6,000 or £7,000 that will be received as a result of this, is taken into account, the extra charge on the State will be a very small one. I do not think it is felt by the Minister for Lands and Agriculture that this charge is one that will be unduly burthensome or one which will militate against the success of the scheme.
The only fee is 1d. per thirty dozen. Probably the most illuminating way of examining the question would be to take an average case. There are eight hundred exporters in the country. The total trade is about £4,000,000. That is a rather rough and ready calculation, but it will give a picture of the situation. The average will be about £5,000 per trader, and on that turnover the cost would be between £8 and £10. I think if the figure £10 errs at all, it errs on the big side. The fee is 1d. on every £2. It is hard to take an average case, as you do not get average cases in real life. But, taking a man whose turnover is £5,000 yearly, it is not too much to ask him to pay between £8 and £10. The fee is small, and I have consulted six or seven trade organisations, and they have not made any trouble. I venture this particular prediction, that the fee is not more than one-third per cent. of the profits.
