I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Its purpose is to make provision for regulating and controlling the export of sheepskins from the Saorstát and, arising therefrom, to revive the fellmongering industry in the Saorstát. Fellmongers are persons who treat sheepskins in such a manner as to separate the wool from the pelts. During the European War the industry was in a very flourishing condition here. It provided a considerable amount of employment to male labour, both skilled and unskilled. The principal fellmongering firms were situated in Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Limerick, Mullingar, Mallow and Clonmel. During that period these firms worked all the sheepskins that were available. The satisfactory state of the industry then was due directly to the prohibition which was in operation on the export of skins, but since that prohibition was removed the industry has declined and the majority of fellmongers are either closed down or working part-time. In fact, only three firms are now engaged in the industry —two in Dublin and one in Limerick.
The decline of the industry was due directly to the inability of Saorstát fellmongers to purchase sheepskins in competition with cross-Channel buyers. There are a number of reasons for that inability of Saorstát fellmongers, apart from the fact that the English firms in this business are much stronger financially and operate on a much larger scale. The skins bought here by these British firms are, of course, a very small proportion of the total of sheepskins bought by them. For various reasons, also, the pelts treated in certain parts of Great Britain command a somewhat higher price on certain markets, and for that reason English fellmongers are occasionally able to pay higher prices for skins and they have, apparently, been operating a consistent policy in this country, which has resulted in the practical suppression of the industry here.
It is, therefore, proposed under this Bill to prohibit the export of sheepskins and thereby, to make available for fellmongers in the Saorstát the raw material necessary to revive their industry. It is estimated that employment will be found for a number of men in consequence. There is no question that the Saorstát fellmongers can work all the skins that are available, but even if they cannot do so, provision is made in the Bill to permit the export, under licence, of any surplus. At the present time, the firms which are working—the three firms to which I have referred—are operating only to, approximately, one-sixth of their capacity, and it is estimated that the total quantity of skins is, roughly, from 20,000 to 25,000 a week. The effect of the operation of the measure will be to reduce somewhat the prices paid for sheepskins. It may be argued that the prohibition of the export of sheepskins, therefore, will have a bearing on the price of sheep. There is no reason to believe that the Saorstát farmer will be affected by the Bill as the price of sheep will continue to be governed by the export prices. Any reduction in the price of sheepskins would fall on the butchers who, however, cannot be said to be in an unfavourable position at the present time. There is a ready market for pelts in Great Britain and the Continent, and no difficulty in disposing of the products of the industry is anticipated. The pelts prepared in the Saorstát will be available for export as there are as yet no light tanneries in the country. Any loss in the export trade will, therefore, be more than compensated for by the increased export of pelts. The licensing provisions of the Bill can also be operated, if necessary, to prevent any attempt to depress, unduly, the price of sheepskins here. In addition the Bill will permit of the export in the months of June, July and August of the skins of shearlings which are not worked by the fellmongers. The measure is a simple one. Its provisions can easily be understood. I have outlined the manner in which it is proposed to utilise the powers conferred by the Bill. The matter has been very carefully considered and discussed at a number of conferences with all the interested parties. The measure before the Dáil is the outcome of these discussions.
