asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the reasons for the closing down of the mills of Messrs. Sherwood and Sparling at Croagh, County Limerick, and if he is aware that these millers only worked on commission to mill flour for the farmers in County Limerick, and that this action will have serious effects on these farmers, who have not been accustomed to purchase flour by retail and will now find it impossible to obtain any supply of flour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Limerick Flour Mills.
The mills of Messrs. Sherwood and Sparling at Croagh, County Limerick, were closed down in order to conserve supplies of wheat essential to the life of the community. The answers to the other parts of the Deputies' question are in the negative.
Both mills were inspected in October, 1941, and indications were discovered that white flour had been recently or was in process of being milled. Both Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Sparling were convicted on April 13th, 1942, of the illegal milling of wheat. Both mills were again inspected in the present month when evidence of the continued illegal milling of wheat was discovered.
Is it true that wheat belonging to citizens found in these mills was confiscated or is it the intention of the Minister to return to the owners the wheat of which Messrs. Sherwood and Sparling were the Bailees?
The wheat found was impounded by the Department of Agriculture; it was not confiscated. The Department of Agriculture will, presumably, arrange for a transfer of that wheat to registered merchants and payment will eventually accrue to the persons to whom it belongs. If in any case it is found that hardship will arise to any person by the impounding of the wheat, special arrangements will be made to deal with that case.
The persons whose wheat was lying in Messrs. Sherwood and Sparling's mills will be either paid for it or will get the wheat back?
Exactly.
Will the Minister say if they were prosecuted for milling wheat flour?
No, for the illegal milling of wheat.
Milling wheat without a permit?
Yes, milling wheat without a permit.
Will the Minister say whether these two mills applied in October for a special permit when they Became aware that a permit was necessary; that the matter was deferred by the Department, and that at a later period the mills were inspected and no fault was found with them?
They were both found milling white flour.
Does the Minister say definitely that they were found milling white flour?
In one case white flour was found on the premises and in the other case white flour was actually being milled when the inspector arrived.
My information is that neither of the mills milled any white flour for a period of 18 months, when the new regulations came into force.
In October last, in the case of Messrs. Sherwood's mill, when the inspector arrived at the premises he found the mill in operation milling white flour.
Is the Minister aware that these two mills have been in operation for more than a couple of hundred years?
That does not entitle them to break the law.
If you were wrong about the doctors you may be wrong about the millers.
Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and as it would be impossible for me to give all the information I have by way of supplementary questions, I propose, with your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.