asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the Government agent for shipments of eggs to Germany is stipulating with exporters that they should offer nothing for the German market except selected and extra selected eggs, and does he realise that in the event of this continuing, an unduly high proportion of medium and trade eggs will be sent to the British market, with serious and undesirable consequences for our egg trade in that centre.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Egg Exports.
I am aware that egg exporters have been asked to quote only for selected and extra selected eggs for export to Germany at present; but there is nothing to prevent the export of medium grade eggs to Germany during the greater portion of the year. In fact 22 per cent. of the total shipment of eggs to Germany in February consisted of medium grade eggs. As the Deputy is aware, the grades have reference to classification by weight, and the eggs in all these grades are of first quality. It is not anticipated that over the year as a whole there will be any appreciable change in the proportions of the different grades exported to the British market. In these circumstances, I do not consider that consequences such as the Deputy refers to are likely to result.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is the House to understand that, consequent upon a trade agreement with the German Reich to exchange goods with this country in certain proportions, that agreement is now being amended by the German Government by way of qualification of the classes of goods that they are prepared to accept? Is the Minister not aware that a general agreement was entered into with the German Government that they should take eggs? Is he of opinion that that agreement is being honoured in the letter or in the spirit if it is to be further amended to mean that the German Government will accept only certain classes of eggs, and is that in accordance with the terms of the trade agreement made by the Government with the German Government?
Dr. Ryan
Yes, it is in accordance with the terms.
Does the Minister suggest that it is a legitimate or desirable agreement that to the German market we should send nothing but the two top grades of eggs and to the British market, which takes 95 per cent. of our total egg exports, we should send the leavings, after the German market has been supplied with the best we have?
Dr. Ryan
Did the Deputy listen to my reply or had he the supplementary question prepared before he heard it? I think he had. I pointed out that the British market is able to get as good eggs as ever it got, and if the Deputy had any desire to help the egg trade he would not raise such a question here.
Does the Minister realise that at this period of the year we are beholden to any country which will take our eggs when there is a great surplus, and that at the present moment it is a vital matter to egg exporters in this country that we should treat those persons who take our eggs at all times of the year with the same consideration that we expect from these people in times of difficulty?
Dr. Ryan
They are being treated the same.
Does the Minister imagine that, if we withhold from them the high quality eggs and give them to somebody else at this period, they will treat us with the same leniency and trade consideration that we habitually get from them in difficult times when it is hard to dispose of our surplus eggs?
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy is quite well aware that the British market is being supplied with as good eggs as ever it was supplied with. We are sending some to Germany because Great Britain has put on a quota. There is no question of any lower grade eggs going to Great Britain. If the Deputy wants to make political capital out of a point such as that, against the interests of the country, he is quite welcome to it.
The suggestion has been made that I have suggested that the quality of eggs being sent to Great Britain at present is inferior. No such suggestion is implicit in my question. I have pointed out that eggs are graded in this country, not only in regard to quality but in regard to uniformity and size, and the choice qualities are those of the larger size. These are now being shipped to Germany to the exclusion of those of the smaller size, which are usually more difficult to dispose of. My question to the Minister is: is it with his approval that his agents for the German market are collaring all the big eggs for the German market and sending the small ones to Great Britain? The Minister knows that that is the pith of my question and that there is no reflection on the quality.
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy knows that I answered that we sent 22 per cent. of the medium grade eggs to Germany in February.
And what percentage this month—March?
Dr. Ryan
Wait until March is over.
Not one.