asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it has been brought to his notice that complaints have been made in Donegal that traders and retailers have in some cases increased the price of Saorstát manufactured articles—such as maize or Indian meal—by the whole or part of the duties imposed on the corresponding imported article and, if so, what steps he proposes to take against profiteering of this kind and to prevent the increase of prices where there is no reason for such increases except the existence of a protected market.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Complaints of Profiteering.
I have received complaints that merchants in certain centres in Co. Donegal increased their prices for maize products following the imposition of the tariff. There is no justification for any such increase. Enquiries which were addressed by my Department to maize millers in Co. Donegal reveal that no increase in the wholesale price of these products had taken place. As I have intimated to the Dáil, legislation will be introduced at an early date which will, I hope, enable me to deal effectively with complaints of the kind to which the Deputy refers.
The Minister has enquired from the millers whether the price of maize meal has been increased. Has he enquired from the railway companies whether freight charges from where the meal is now produced to where it is being sold is greater or less than they were when factors were getting it from Derry or other centres in the Six Counties?
No, but in my opinion the freight charges should be less in the particular centres in respect to which complaints were received.
Would it not astonish the Minister to know that there are many places where a short haul is much more expensive than a long haul, because the railway companies will make concessions to big millers and give cheap rates that they will not give to small millers or shopkeepers? Would he not enquire whether the meal is not costing the shopkeeper more since this tariff was put on? There is nothing made on meal. If the price has been raised, I am sure it is because the sellers had to pay more in freight or purchase.
The enquiries conducted by my Department have satisfied me that the increase in prices which took place in a few centres, in respect to which complaints were made in County Donegal, were not justified by any increase of prices to the merchants. I will have the matter of freight charges to which the Deputy refers examined.
I am satisfied that the mills in question have not increased the carriage rate on maize meal to the different merchants, but notwithstanding that the price of the meal has been increased in some cases by 2/- per cwt.
Arising out of the supplementary question, I want to ask the Minister if the price-fixing legislation which he proposes to introduce gives him power to impose penalties or even jail on railway companies for increasing freights on short hauls out of proportion to what they charge for long hauls?
The answer is in the negative.
Deputy Dillon was correct.
Arising out of the point made by the Deputy, I wish to state that, in the case of Donegal, in respect of complaints of an increase in the prices of maize products, there is no justification whatever for the increases. I hope when legislation is introduced we will be able to deal with the merchants concerned if they are still offending in that matter in the way the Deputy indicated.
My point has apparently been misunderstood. On the question introduced relative to this matter of maize meal in Donegal, I want to know will the price-fixing legislation which the Minister proposes to introduce give him power to impose penalties on railway companies generally, or haulage companies generally, if they increase the price for short hauls out of proportion to the freights they receive for long hauls? Do I understand the Minister to say that that power will be taken?
We propose to deal with the transport situation in another Bill.
The Minister gave an answer to Deputy Dillon, and I was following that up. The complaint made was ——
Are we going to have a debate on price fixing now?
We cannot have it now.
Until I am criticised by you, A Chinn Comhairle, I am in order in asking for information arising out of an answer to a question, or possibly a change in the chairmanship is going to be proposed. A question was raised with regard to charges for short hauls as against the charges for long hauls. The Minister for Industry and Commerce indicated that in his opinion the charges for short hauls have been increased over the proportion for long hauls. I want to know will he take power to prevent the carrying companies making extraordinary charges for short hauls as compared with long hauls?
I did not say anything of the kind that the Deputy has attributed to me, and if he wishes an answer to his question, I suggest that he should put it down on the paper.
Will the Minister, for his own information, ask Deputy Dillon to furnish details of the alleged increased charges made by the carrying companies concerned in this matter.
I have some experience of the maize mills in Donegal.
The millers there have agents in the different towns and the meal is sold at the market price, irrespective of whether the haul is short or long.