asked the Minister for Supplies whether before reducing to one ounce per head per week the tea ration made available to the public he considered (a) acquiring for equitable distribution the total reserves of tea held in this country by traders and others, and (b) purchasing in bulk quantities all imports of tea for equitable distribution to the public through the agency of his Department, and, if not, whether he will consider taking such steps with a view to providing people, who because of their poverty must rely mainly on tea as an article of food, with a reasonable tea ration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rationing of Tea.
In reply to the first part of the Deputy's question, I do not consider that it would be practicable to acquire the reserves of tea held by traders and others for distribution, nor am I satisfied that such action would permit of any increase in the ration now available. As to the second part of the question, it is not necessary for the purpose of the control over distribution at present exercised by my Department that all imports of tea should be purchased in bulk, apart from the considerable practical difficulties which would attend such course.
Would the Minister say what action, if any, he proposes to take for the purpose of providing a special tea ration for turf workers during the coming months?
That appears to be a separate question.
It has a bearing on the subject matter of the question.
The Deputy's question requests provision for "people who, because of their poverty, must rely on tea."
If the turf workers have no special tea ration allowance at the moment, surely it is necessary for the Minister to consider the advisability of purchasing tea in bulk for that purpose?
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state on what basis the allowance of one ounce of tea per person was fixed, and if, in view of the fact that tea is the principal item in the meal of the most needy of the population, he will see that this allowance is increased to a reasonable amount; if, further, in necessitous cases he will take steps to have the said increased ration provided free of cost.
The individual tea ration under the Emergency Powers (Distribution of Tea) Order, 1941, has been fixed on the basis of the reduced supplies which are being allocated to this country by the Tea Control of the British Ministry of Food, through which channel all our supplies are now being obtained. When notification was received that allocations were being reduced to 50 per cent. of the normal supplies, it was found that the quantity available would not permit of a ration exceeding one ounce per week per head of the population. As I have already informed the Dáil, notification has since been given that allocations will, for the present, be reduced to 25 per cent. of the normal supplies, and an adjustment of the ration to one half ounce per week per person has had to be made in consequence. I regret that no increase in the ration can be made. It is not proposed to provide tea free of cost.
Mr. Byrne
Regarding the latter part of the question, would the Minister say if he is aware that there is a very large number of people at the present moment in the City of Dublin not able to buy tea? I am speaking of those who have not the money to buy it, regardless of the fact that they may have ration cards. They are in extreme poverty and the time has arrived to give them a ration of tea and other foodstuffs free of charge.
Is the Minister aware that, during portion of the time in which the tea ration was one ounce per head, shopkeepers could not buy that quantity from the merchants because the merchants had not got it to give?
The quantity of tea distributed by wholesalers to retailers during the month of March was equal to 75 per cent. of the normal requirements.
I am speaking of actual facts—not of the Minister's information in his office. Wholesalers told the shopkeepers that they had not got the quantity that would give them an ounce per week for each customer and that they should go to the Minister and tell him so. Is the Minister aware of that?
The Deputy should not believe all that he is told.
I am speaking as a trader and I know what I am talking about. The Minister should not try to force an untruth down my neck. That is a fact, and if the Minister does not know it he does not know his job. When we give information in this House, are we to be told by a Minister that it is untrue?
The allegation of "untruth" was made by the Deputy.