asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the urgent necessity of encouraging the farmers to use as much artificial fertilisers as can be made available to them on their tillage land, he will arrange with the Minister for Finance to remove the 20 per cent. tax on imported artificial manures, and with the Minister for Supplies to have adequate quantities available in time for use on the crops.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tariff on Artificial Manures.
A proposal for the suspension of the existing customs duty of 20 per cent. ad valorem on superphosphates, ground mineral phosphates and compound manures imported from countries outside the Commonwealth is under consideration and it is expected that a decision will be reached at an early date. I am aware that everything practicable is being done by the Minister for Supplies to secure adequate quantities of artificial fertilisers.
I am sure the Minister will see that the people will get adequate supplies of superphosphate fertilisers?
Certainly.
The Deputy is an optimist.
There is a 25 per cent. decrease in home manufactured fertilisers this year, and with the big increase in tillage there will be much more fertilisers required. I am sure the Minister will do all in his power to see that people have an adequate supply?
The Deputy may be sure of that.
I am informed by merchants that they have imported those manures which the Minister has mentioned, even with the 20 per cent. on them, and that if the tariff were taken off they would import a lot more. In the present circumstances, why not arrange with the Minister for Finance to take off the duty immediately, and let the people have all the manures they can get?
Is the Minister aware that at the present moment his Department is refusing to pay the 10/- bounty on any imported manures that individual merchants can secure?
That is a separate question.
With respect, Sir, there is a scheme whereby 10/- bounty is paid on manures. Refusal to pay that bounty is the most effective tariff that can be imposed.
It does not arise from the main question.
Perhaps the Minister would say whether he is prepared to give this 10/- bounty, in which event considerable additional supplies of manure can be imported forthwith?
The Minister may not reply to an irrelevant supplementary.
Might I direct your attention, Sir, to the end of question 15, which has no relation at all to the import tariff. It says:
".... and with the Minister for Supplies to have adequate quantities available in time for using on the crops."
Arising out of the Minister's reply to that, in which he said that the most effective measures would be taken, I am asking him will he take this one measure?
The Deputy may not put a question which is not relevant.