asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that widely different prices are being paid by curers for bacon pigs, in many cases substantially higher than those fixed by the Export Committee, and whether he will state (1) what is Government policy in regard to pig production, i.e., whether they want it increased or reduced, and (2) whether he intends to ensure that the full value of pigs will be compulsorily payable by all curers in Éire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Bacon Pigs.
I am aware that prices for bacon pigs in excess of those fixed by the Pigs and Bacon Commission have recently been advertised by certain curers. With reference to pig production, the policy is to maintain stocks as nearly as possible at recent levels, having regard, however, to the supplies of food available in the country.
In that connection, would the Minister say to us now what the Government want us to do? The Minister said to us last June that he wanted the pig population reduced.
No.
I understood him to say so. I had 66 pigs which I sold at 88/- per cwt., and one fortnight later the same pigs were worth 115/- per cwt., involving me in the trifling loss of £90. Would the Minister now tell us what he wants us to do? If he wants us to produce the maximum number of pigs——
Supplementary questions should be brief. If every question were to take three minutes, two hours would be required to dispose of the questions on to-day's Order Paper.
This is a matter of considerable importance.
Quite so, but other Deputies may consider their questions to be equally important.
Would the Minister tell us what he wants us to do? If he proposes to stimulate pig production, then I suggest to him that he should take steps to establish a standard ration, thereby making the best use possible of the available feeding stuffs in the country.
With regard to the production of pigs, we are very anxious to keep up the present supplies. The only thing that would prevent us from asking for more pigs would be the fear that feeding stuffs may not be there to feed more pigs. We did consider very fully the question of taking up the available feeding stuffs to make a standard ration, but I am afraid that would make feeding very much dearer, at least at this time. The position may be different after next harvest.