asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what is the average yield per statute acre of wheat in the harvest of this year, and whether he has any information as to how the wheat bushelled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Yield.
The official statistics relative to the average yield of wheat of the 1938 crop are not yet available. Reports received from various parts of the country would, however, appear to indicate that the yield will be between 16 and 17 cwts. per statute acre. Owing to unfavourable weather during the latter stages of growth and the moist condition of the wheat when harvested, it is probable that the average bushel weight is somewhat lower than that of last year's crop and will be in the neighbourhood of 57 lb.
Is the Minister aware that this scheme is being made an excuse by the millers to levy on the people of this country an annual tax of £2,700,000, and, in view of the facts he has mentioned, does he think it worth while carrying it on?
If the statements made by the Deputy were really facts, I would not.
Does the Minister realise that the millers, because they are required to include Irish wheat in the manufacture of flour, are charging 38/6 for flour which would otherwise cost the people 20/6? That means that the people are paying 18/- a cwt. for flour which they could otherwise buy for 9/-, and as the people of this country consume 3,000,000 sacks of wheat a year, that represents a sum of £2,700,000 per annum as excess cost in flour.
The Deputy asked the Minister for the average yield per statute acre of wheat.
But, in the light of the fact that this scheme is being made an excuse for the purpose of extorting £2,700,000 per annum from the people——
The Deputy's question should not be made an excuse for delivering a speech.
Is the Minister right in carrying on this scheme which, according to his own figures, is unsatisfactory? He mentioned that the yield would be about 16 or 17 cwts. per statute acre, and that because of the unfavourable weather it is probable that the average bushel weight will be lower. Therefore, the farmers will make little out of it, and I suggest the only people who ever made anything out of it are the millers, who have made £2,700,000 in the year.
Is the Minister aware that the millers are unable to dry a lot of this wheat that has been stored recently and that it has to be dug out?
I have not heard that before.
I am afraid it is true.