I wonder would the House permit me to take the First Reading of the Bill referred to in the Financial Resolution just passed? The difficulty in this case is that the miller, who buys wheat from the farmer, gets a subsidy, or, at least, the farmer gets the subsidy. The miller buys wheat, say, at 17/6, and the farmer gets a subsidy, which brings the price up to 23/6. The seedsman, who is not entitled to get a subsidy, in order to compete, would have to buy wheat also at 23/6. Apart from the danger of the Minister for Finance having to pay the bounty twice, there is the consideration that the ordinary seedsmen would be wiped out of business, unless we met them in this way. There will also be another provision in the Bill extending the period for registration. We found that the original Cereals Act was worded in such a way that we could not pay a subsidy to any farmer unless he was registered before the 1st of August. There were many farmers who were a bit slow about registering and they would find it impossible to get the subsidy now unless we extend the period of registration, as we propose to do, in this amending Bill. As both matters are somewhat urgent, I should be glad if the Dáil would take the First Reading of the Bill now. I accordingly move for leave to introduce "a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Act, 1933, and to provide for the better control and regulation of the sale of wheat for seed, and for other matters relating to the matters aforesaid."
Agricultural Produce (Cereals) (Amendment) Bill, 1933—First Stage.
Leave granted.
Bill read a first time.
Second Stage ordered for Wednesday, 15th November, 1933.