Yesterday I asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can state the quantity of Irish creamery butter for sale in cold storage on the 31st December, 1929; 28th February, 1930, and 30th April, 1930. The Minister replied that the Department have not the information at their disposal which would enable the figures asked for to be supplied. I expected the Minister would give the figures required. He states that the Department have no information to enable him to give them, but I would point out to him that his Department issues a quarterly report, and he must have some machinery for getting the statistics in that report. I cannot see why he could not use the same machinery for getting the information which I require. There is considerable dissatisfaction in the constituency I represent at the speech that was made by the Minister in Hospital recently, when he said there was a very difficult time before the dairying industry. Rumours are in circulation in the constituency that large quantities of butter have been held in cold storage for a considerable time. There was a rumour to the effect that 400 tons of butter were held in cold storage. I have heard another rumour that it is as much as 900 tons. If that is so I cannot see why the Minister would not protect the industry by putting a duty on the import of butter. There is also a rumour that a considerable portion of that butter has become useless, and that eventually it will be used only for car grease. If the Minister would give the figures I require it would prevent these rumours circulating, and they are certainly doing damage to the department which is in charge of the marketing of butter. I think the House is entitled to the figures I have asked for.
When he states that he cannot collect them I do not believe it is so. I believe he can get them if he wishes. The Minister has power to regulate the export of butter, and I think he should have power also to have the figures of the quantity of butter which is kept in cold storage from time to time. If that butter goes wrong somebody has to pay for it, and the farmers are the people who are certain to suffer. I will again ask the Minister to give the figures that I am looking for.