asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will suspend the maize meal mixture scheme in view of the fact that it has failed to dispose of surplus home-grown grain and is costing feeders from 3/- to 3/6 per cwt. in the price of maize meal as compared with maize meal mixture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maize Meal Mixture Scheme.
It is not a fact that the maize meal mixture scheme is failing to absorb the surplus home-grown grain; neither is it the case that the cost of the mixed meal is 3/- to 3/6 per cwt. higher than that of maize meal.
I do not, therefore, propose to suspend the scheme.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it not true that he was obliged to seek the co-operation of Messrs. Arthur Guinness, Son and Co., Ltd., to relieve the surplus of barley on the market? Is it not true also that his increase of the maize meal mixture content of home-grown grain to 50 per cent. has resulted in such an advance in the price of the maize meal mixture that the sales of that commodity have dwindled to almost nothing and that, as a result thereof, the ability of the maize meal mixture to absorb home-grown grain has virtually ceased; and, in view of these facts and of the fact that the Minister himself holds that it takes 6 cwts. of meal to fatten a pig, will he relieve the pig producers of this country of the burden of 18/- per pig which they are at present paying in view of the maize meal mixture scheme?
Dr. Ryan
The answer to all the Deputy's questions is in the negative. All the Deputy's statements are not true.
Owing to what I consider the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I ask leave to raise this matter on the adjournment.