asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can arrange with the Pigs and Bacon Commission to have pigs accepted at all the bacon factories in Éire paid for on delivery at the advertised live-weight price as the dead-weight basis is unfair to the pig producers at present rates, 105/- dead-weight being only equal to about 77/- live-weight, whereas the current live-weight price (which some curing firms will not trade in) is 85/- and some bacon factories are even paying substantially more for pigs bought by live-weight.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Pigs.
Since the Pigs and Bacon Commission has no power to require that pigs shall be bought either on a live-weight or a dead-weight basis, it is not feasible to make the arrangement suggested. If, however, it is so desired, I would be prepared to ask the commission to consider the question of reviewing the ratios between live and dead-weight prices for pigs.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is not the Minister aware that at 85/- per cwt. live-weight a 2-cwt. pig makes £8 10s., while the same pig bought at the dead-weight price of 105/- makes £7 17s. 6d. — a difference of 12/6 between the live-weight and dead-weight price? Some of the big curers have refused to take pigs live-weight. What is the Minister prepared to do to help the pig producers in those circumstances? I think the first thing he should do is to pawn the Pigs and Bacon Board, because it is a nuisance to the country.
I may inform the Deputy that he is wrong in his figures.
I am not wrong in my figures.
The fixed live-weight price is 83/-.
My point is that there is a difference of 8/6. Is the Minister aware of that?
No, and I am not convinced, either.