asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that no adequate steps have been taken at present to collect supplies of waste paper, scrap iron and many other materials urgently needed by manufacturing industries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection of Waste.
I am aware that the results obtained in the collection of waste paper have not heretofore been adequate to meet the needs, but arrangements to organise the collection on a larger scale throughout the country have been concluded and it is hoped that these arrangements will prove successful. In the case of scrap iron and other materials required for industrial purposes, I am not aware that the collections made on an ordinary commercial basis have failed to satisfy the demands.
Is the Minister aware that the price paid for waste paper would not pay for the baling of the paper? If he wants to get waste paper collected throughout rural Ireland, the only way he will succeed will be by persuading the paper mills to pay a price for the waste paper which will compensate the persons who collect it, bale it and transport it.
The price was fixed in consultation with the people who engage in this business of collecting waste paper.
And so that it will leave them a handsome margin of profit.
The amount they will get will depend on the supplies.
They are not getting the supplies.
I do not think that ordinary commercial methods would suffice in the case of waste paper.
The wisest way is to go to the person with waste paper and say: "You are throwing that out when you could obtain a price which would yield you a modest profit." If you fix such a price, you will get the paper, and, if you do not, you will never get the paper. If the Minister allows himself to be advised by waste paper dealers who recommend to him the fixing of a price to the supplier which will leave them a handsome margin of profit when they transfer the paper to the mill, he will never get any of the waste paper which he should get. He may get supplies from those who are specially circumstanced and who usually provide these supplies.
The waste-paper merchants are satisfied that ordinary commercial methods will not be sufficient in this case and that they will have to be supplemented by other methods. Accordingly, the work is to be undertaken by charitable and kindred organisations on a voluntary basis. A scheme along these lines has been arranged and is about to operate.
Does the Minister realise the position into which he has been manoeuvred? The waste-paper dealers want to get the paper cheaply and it is to be collected by charitable organisations.
They get the same amount no matter who collects it.
Having failed to get it through the ordinary commercial channels, they now want to get it through charitable organisations.
It does not matter a rap to them what price they get it at. The more they get, the more they will earn. What does matter to them is quantity, and that is what principally concerns us also. We are, of course, anxious that the supplies obtainable should be obtained cheaply because the selling price of the manufactured product will depend on the price of the waste paper collected. The Deputy misunderstands the position if he thinks that the waste paper merchants will benefit as regards price.
The waste paper merchants failed to obtain supplies because they would not pay a fair price for them. Now they have manoeuvred the Minister into this position.
This seems to have developed into a debate.