asked the Minister for Supplies if he will take steps to have supplies of sugar and tea distributed to retailers on the basis of their registered customers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar and Tea Distribution.
As supplies of tea to this country are at present allocated by the British Ministry of Food on the basis of the purchases of tea by Éire wholesale merchants in the year ended 30th June, 1939, it is necessary that the arrangements for distribution to retailers and for the rationing of consumers should be made to conform with those allocations. It would not, therefore, be practicable to make the extensive adjustment in tea quotas for wholesalers as well as retailers which the adoption of the Deputy's suggestion would entail.
With regard to the distribution of sugar to retailers on the basis of their registered customers, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a somewhat similar question on the 12th November last.
Is the Minister aware that the present system of allocation, particularly in regard to sugar, is causing chaos in a great number of towns? Is he also aware that business people usually do not purchase uniform quantities of tea or sugar each year? For example, my attention has been drawn to the case of a business man who laid in a big supply of tea and sugar early in 1938, with the result that he did not purchase very large supplies during the standard year. The consequence is that his supplies have been very much reduced, and that he has had to turn away old customers who were on his books for years. That seems to me to be a case which the Minister should consider.
That case will be considered if the person concerned can prove the facts.
This particular trader submitted to the Department of Supplies invoices showing the amount of tea he purchased in the early part of 1938. I have also the case of a city person who cannot get a registration for sugar anywhere in the city. When she informed the Department of Supplies that she could not get registration anywhere, she was asked where she was registered for supplies.
Was she in the habit of paying for the sugar that she got?
In regard to supplies, you had people trading in particular shops for 1939-40 and up to the present. What is their position going to be since the trader they were dealing with is not now in a position to supply them? He has now to tell them that they must go back for their supplies to the shops they were dealing in in 1938, due to the fact that this trader cannot get supplies to meet the demands of those people. The wholesalers are agreeable to give the necessary supplies of tea to this particular trader, but the Department of Supplies will not give the necessary permit.