asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will take steps to have the recent reduction in the fixed price for Grade I bacon pigs cancelled inasmuch as the costs of pig-production tend to rise rather than fall at the present time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Bacon Pigs.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can state the reasons for the recent reduction in the fixed prices for bacon pigs, having regard to the high cost of all feeding stuffs and the danger of a very serious decline in pig production in the near future.
I propose replying to Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
In the existing emergency, pig production can be maintained only where the producer has himself grown the bulk, if not all, of the foods required for that purpose, or where swill or similar material which would otherwise go to waste is available. The present prices fixed for bacon pigs are regarded as adequate to enable production in such circumstances to continue and I am not prepared to take steps to have them revised. Feeding stuffs which can be utilised directly for human consumption should not be used for feeding pigs.
What justification does the Minister offer for the reduction in the price of bacon pigs at the time when that reduction was made, and will he say if he desires that people should cease feeding pigs, or if he wants them to continue doing so, because many people believe that his approval of that reduction is an indication of the Government's desire to kill off the pig population?
I can only reply by reading my reply again.
Does the Minister want the pig population of the country killed off?
No.
Why does the Minister approve a reduction in the price at a time like this when he knows that the cost of pig production has not gone down, whatever about going up?
I have answered already what the Deputy asked me in two supplementaries—that the price is considered remunerative where farmers are producing their own feeding stuffs.
Why, then, was the price 6/- higher three weeks ago? Does the Minister contend that the cost of production has gone down recently? Does he realise that, far from going down, the trend of the cost of production is to go up, and how then does he justify a reduction of 6/- per cwt. in the course of the last few weeks? If a price of 112/- per cwt. was just three weeks ago, how is the price of 106/- just now? The truth of it is that the bacon curers were not making enough money and they wanted the Minister's help in making more.
Is the Minister aware that serious injustice is being inflicted on people who have been feeding pigs in the expectation of getting a reasonable return, and particularly on poor people who purchased small pigs for fattening at a very high price? Does he realise that these people have suffered a very grave loss?
People have certainly never got a guarantee of any kind that pig prices would remain constant. In fact, I have never lost the opportunity, when speaking down the country, of reminding the farmers that there was no guarantee whatever in respect of the price of pigs.
Was it not the whole purpose of the Pigs and Bacon Act that farmers would get three months' notice of a change of price, so that when a farmer bought in a bonham for fattening, he would know what the price per cwt. would be when it came out? Here the change is made at 24 hours' notice, and those who bought bonhams in the light of the old price now find themselves with pigs on their hands which, sold at 106/- per cwt., will involve them in loss.
It was provided in the Act that the price could be reduced at 24 hours' notice.
Was it not the whole principle underlying the Act, and did not the Minister defend the Act here on the basis, that the price would be advanced or reduced only after due notice had been given, so that farmers would know what they would get for pork when they bought in the pigs for rearing.
That is inconsistent with what was inserted in the Act.
When the Minister states that pigs can be produced profitably when fed on stuff produced on the farm, does he not admit the principle that feeding stuff produced on the farm is entitled to be charged at market price against the cost of production?
Of course, yes.
If that is so, how can they be produced profitably at the price fixed by the Minister?
If the Deputy will go into the figures, I think he will agree with me.
Will the Minister say if the reduction of price was deliberately arranged to curtail the production of pigs?
No, it was not.
To give the bacon curers more profit.
Has the Minister read the speech recently made by his leader?
Yes, I read them all.
Is the Minister not aware that the effect of the reduction will be to curtail production?
I do not think so.