asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the bounty on turkeys, etc., is payable to breeders who send their poultry direct to cross-channel buyers; and, if so, what are the conditions under which these individuals will obtain the benefit of this bounty, and if poultry exported must be packed in standard cases what are the prescribed dimensions of such cases.
Ceist—Question. Written Answer.
Bounties will be payable to breeders as well as to others who export dead turkeys or other dead poultry, subject only to the condition that the poultry is exported in standard packages approved by my Department.
Packages considered to be standard are those (of which there should be a plentiful supply) constructed according to the specifications set out in the memorandum which has been freely circulated to the trade, and to box makers in this, as in previous years. Rigid adherence to the specifications will not be insisted on, and where cases generally approximating to the standard are used, there will, as a rule, be no delay in payment of claims for the appropriate bounty, i.e. 4d. per lb. for turkeys and 2d. per lb. for other poultry. Where, however, poultry is exported in cases which though otherwise suitable vary from the specifications to any marked degree, claims for bounty will require to be supported by documentary evidence of the net weight of the consignment and payment of claims will thus, of necessity, be delayed. In no circumstances will bounty be paid on poultry exported in hampers, tea chests, sacks, soap boxes, or other unsuitable receptacles, or through the parcels post; and the bounty may be reduced or refused on any consignment reported to be improperly packed, as, for example, with straw or in dirty or second-hand cases.