asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will represent to the Pigs Marketing Board the necessity for an arrangement under which the bacon factories could take from farmers the pigs they have ready for slaughter, as under present conditions the buying of bacon pigs has virtually come to a standstill owing to the fact that the factories are not taking one-fourth of the pigs that are ready for killing, and if they are left on the feeders' hands these pigs will be too fat for the factories' requirements within the next week or two, as the factories are advertising that they will not accept any pigs over 17 stone live weight.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Pigs—Purchase by Factories.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that a surplus of bacon pigs is developing in Counties Monaghan, Wexford, Mayo and Tipperary, and whether he will request the Pigs and Bacon Export Committee to take steps forthwith to take the surplus pigs off the feeders' hands.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that during the months of December and January, through the operation of the quota, fat pigs were left unsold in a number of markets in some of the Leinster counties, and if he will represent to the Pigs and Bacon Commission the necessity of taking steps to ensure that feeders' interests will be protected against such a contingency in future.
I am answering questions Nos. 29, 30 and 31 together.
I am aware that there has been a surplus of bacon pigs within recent weeks in the Counties Monaghan, Wexford and Tipperary. In County Mayo, however, it appears that one of the bacon factories is unable to get sufficient pigs for its own requirements.
Arrangements have already been made by the Pigs and Bacon Commission to accept and pay for at the fixed prices all pigs offered to the commission's representatives in any county in which there are pigs surplus to the requirements of curers. The returns received by the Commission of pigs accepted at bacon factories do not indicate that there is any standstill in the acceptance of pigs by the factories.
As to pigs 17 stone, it is desirable that producers should realise that pigs of this weight are unsuitable to the present bacon trade, and that in view of the necessity for conserving feeding stuffs pigs should not be fed to weights greater than are suitable to the bacon trade.
Is the Minister aware that only one-fourth of the pigs in the constituency which he and I represent had been taken up to the middle of last week?
They have been taken now anyway.
In the case of pigs which have been kept for an extra six weeks, what is their weight now, or where is the market for those heavy pigs? Are the farmers to be penalised to the extent of 25/- or 30/-, in addition to the cost of the extra food which the pigs have consumed in the meantime? That is not the way to increase our food supply.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, why on earth does he not increase the bacon curers' quota? The bacon curers are very willing to kill the pigs and cure them, but the Minister will not allow them. Instead, he is sending around the Pigs and Bacon Board officers to take the pigs at the factory, whereas if he allowed the curers to kill the pigs themselves they would do it willingly.
I do not think that is right.
The Pigs and Bacon Marketing Board fix the curers' quota at a figure which does not permit of their taking the pigs. I know that the factory at Ballaghaderreen wants to kill the pigs, would be glad to kill them, and will not be allowed to do so. The pigs are being shifted down to Claremorris, 35 miles away, in order to get them killed for the Pigs Marketing Board by the Claremorris factory.
Does the Deputy say that the factory at Ballaghaderreen is willing to take more pigs on their own account?
Yes.
It is not my business, but I certainly have discussed that matter with the Pigs and Bacon Commission, and I am quite sure that they will allow any factory to take any pigs available in their own area.
Does the Minister give that undertaking?
Yes.
If he does that, he can do no more.
Does that undertaking apply to other curers?
Yes, certainly, in their own area.
I want to know definitely what is the purpose of this?
The purpose of what?
Why are not the curers permitted to buy the pigs? What is the purpose of stopping the curers from buying them? There is a small bacon curer in Carlow; I was in his place a few days ago, and there was an inspector on the premises. That curer had 30 pigs in his yard, and he has eight or nine men there whom he is anxious to keep employed. He had exhausted his quota, and begged for an increase in order to kill his 30 pigs, but he was refused.
I saw the same thing myself.
He was informed that the Commission would see about taking the pigs from him and dealing with them themselves. I cannot see any purpose in it. This man was anxious to kill the pigs on the spot and to keep those men in their employment. I cannot see any purpose in it.
Neither can I.
But that is the position.
I think it is only the position in the case of the smaller factories. There is no doubt that some of the bigger factories refused to take more pigs. That is the trouble.
In the case to which I have referred, they could not take the pigs, although they are laying off their men.
I will see about that certainly.
The Minister then will let any factory take the pigs?
I will see the Commission about it.
Will the Minister explain why, when the factories are not allowed to take the extra pigs, the Pigs and Bacon Board can come in and buy the pigs and send them on to those very factories?
I must look into all that.