asked the President if the Executive Council, having in view the general strike in Great Britain, proposes to take any steps for the purpose of conserving the supplies of imported foodstuffs and fuel in the Saorstát, and if they will take steps to provide against an increase of prices of these articles to the public.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CONSERVATION OF FOODSTUFFS AND FUEL.
Supplies of foodstuffs and fuel in the country are, according to the information available to the Executive Council, quite equal to normal demand for a reasonable period. There is no reason to apprehend that traders will find difficlty in replenishing stocks of essential commodities. It is, however, possible that abuse may arise by way of hoarding or profiteering or otherwise. Against these malpractices there is at present no statutory power in the hands of the Executive Council. The Government has legislation prepared to enable the Council to deal with such abuses and to ensure the due supply and distribution of the essentials of life to the community. This legislation will be introduced if and when it is considered necessary.
I should like to ask if the President or Minister for Agriculture is in a position to make any statement by way of advice to farmers, in view of the dislocation of trade that must inevitably take place as a result of the strike in Great Britain, urging the inadvisability of farmers rushing their stocks on to the market when the market is not capable of absorbing them—particularly perishable commodities.
As this is a food-producing country, why does the necessity arise for conserving imported foreign food stuffs, and will the Government take steps to see that the lives of the people are not in future dependent on the produce of foreign farmers?
Will the President consider the advisability of asking the Dublin merchants, especially coal merchants, not to supply more than the normal quantities to ordinary households? Is the President aware that some merchants are already inundated with orders that would give the average household a three months' supply?
With regard to the President's reply, that the Executive would take action with reference to an increase in prices when and if it would be necessary, is the President aware that many coal merchants have already increased the price of coal? I know myself that coal has been increased 8/- per ton in one town, and I am informed that somewhat similar increases are taking place in other towns.
May I ask either the President or the Minister for Fisheries to state whether any steps are being taken with regard to the cutting off of the export of salmon to Great Britain, and whether the Department of Fisheries can circulate particulars as to the amount of cold storage available to the owners of fisheries?
As to Deputy Prior's question regarding the conserving of foodstuffs from foreign farmers, I do not know that that question arises out of the present situation. I did not mention anything about foreign farmers. There are foodstuffs coming in here from foreign countries which are considered essential, and it is in relation to these that I understand Deputy Heffernan addressed the question to me. It is of these foodstuffs that we would wish to have a sufficient supply. The information we had from the coal merchants is to the effect that there is a reasonable supply, and I presume that they are taking reasonable steps to ensure that undue hoarding will not take place.
Is the President now speaking of the city of Dublin or of the coal merchants in the country as a whole?
In the country generally there is a sufficient supply for a very reasonable period. There is no necessity for an increase of eight shillings per ton in coal.
Some Deputies made observations which were inaudible.
I cannot answer questions and listen to interruptions at the same time. If, however, the interruptions are sufficiently clear I will answer them. There is no earthly reason why people should pay eight shillings a ton more for coal. It may be possible in certain cases where there is a desire to hoard that the price does not matter. If people are going to hoard and are prepared to pay the price, we cannot set up expensive machinery to deal with that. There ought to be sufficient public opinion in country towns, where the population is not very large, to deal with a situation of that sort. In my reply I said that abuse may arise by way of hoarding or profiteering or otherwise. The information that we have at present is not sufficient to satisfy us that the abuse has reached an acute stage.
With regard to the question of Deputy Cooper, I am aware that as far as the salmon industry is concerned the export trade is at a stand still and that it will be the cause of serious loss. At the moment, however, I cannot say what amount of coal storage is available, but I shall cause information to be published in the Press of its extent and whereabouts.
May I ask if an answer can be given to the question I put?
Mr. Baxter's point was that farmers were inclined to rush produce on to the market and sell it at a low price, and asked whether the Department would be inclined to give any advice to the farmers on that point. Speaking for the Department, I may say that I would advise the farmers not to lose their heads in this crisis and to refuse to part with their produce except at reasonable prices. I am of opinion, so far as anyone can come to any conclusions in a situation which is shifting from day to day, that if farmers exercise ordinary care and discretion in regard to the time at which they go to market, they will be able to obtain a reasonable price for their produce, and they should not be tempted to part with their produce at an unduly low price.
I should like to ask the Minister if there is any justification for the prices that have been offered, especially for bacon, according to today's papers—if the tendency rather should not be for the prices to rise instead of fall?
Might I explain, in answer to Deputy Prior, that I was dealing with foodstuffs which are not produced in this country—for instance, tea, sugar, rice, and things of that kind—and the President quite understood the meaning of my question.
Mr. HOGAN
I can hardly answer the question as to whether there is any justification for the prices ruling yesterday for bacon. I would point out that farmers had notice since Sunday of the strike in Great Britain; that as a result of that it was, at least, likely that transport would be held up; and that, consequently, buyers would be scarce and extremely cautious. It was bad business from the farmer's point of view, if he could have held over his produce for a week or a fortnight or a month, to market it, say yesterday, after he had got notice of that kind. The point of my advice is this: Farmers should realise that nobody can say for certain when this strike will end, but that there is a possibility that it will end at a reasonable time. Therefore, they should not get panicky and rush their stock and produce on to the market, if they are in a position to hold that stock or produce over for a week or a fortnight or three weeks and clear it on a market which may be perfectly free. It is not quite fair to put all the blame on the buyers if, after having notice given on Sunday and Monday, farmers yesterday came into the market with large quantities of pigs and pork. The buyers, of course, did as buyers always will do: they bought the produce at the cheapest price, and farmers should have foreseen that that would occur immediately after a very big strike had been declared and when no one was in a position to measure its duration or possible reaction.
The exact point I want to get out is that the Irish farmers have less to fear than the farmers of any other country that supply England. We are nearer to England, and we must anticipate that some service will be opened up between the two countries in order to supply the people.
Mr. HOGAN
That is exactly the point. If the English markets open for food supplies, the Irish farmers may take it for certain that they will have an advantage as against any other countries.
It is due to the coal merchants to say that they have been in touch with the Department of Industry and Commerce, and the information conveyed to me goes to show that they have been very just and equitable in their dealings. They are willing to conform to any reasonable requirements of the Government and they have maintained the very highest traditions of business rectitude since the strike began.
Arising out of what the President has said with regard to the action of the coal merchants, is he aware that in Wicklow notices have been placed in the windows of the coal merchants stating that there will be an increase of 10/- per ton from Monday next? The President said that there was no reason to put up prices, but where the coal owners are working in co-operation, as they are in this case, there is no alternative for the buyers except to pay the increased price.
My answer was concerned with coal which had been in stock prior to this trouble. I do not know what the relative price will be in connection with coal brought in from other countries since the trouble— whether it will be cheaper or dearer. But with regard to the commodities in stock prior to the trouble there is no reason whatever why there should be an increase in price.
Especially with reference to Wicklow where there is a two months' supply.
May I ask the President whether he is aware that there has already been an increase in many instances in Dublin in the price of coal? The proprietor of the hotel in which I stay had to pay 7/- per ton extra for coal in the last day or two. Can the President do anything to prevent profiteering of that kind taking place?
I cannot answer any question like that of an individual instance, nor can I answer the complaint of any individual letter that appears on the situation. I am dealing with the general action of the coal merchants in Dublin. There may be a particular coal dealer who charges in excess of the normal prices. I am dealing with the Coal Merchants' Association, and they have not increased the price.