In raising the question I want to assure the Minister that I fully appreciate his responsibility in this matter and I have no intention of condoning anything that would strike across the enforcement of his Order. I am raising this question on the reply of the Minister in which he stated that he was not availing himself of any irregularities that had occurred, that he had no intention of proceeding by punitive measures and that he was merely enforcing this Order in the public interest. That was the substance of the Minister's reply. It is in the public interest that I am raising this question. I am moving in the matter also at the request of a largely attended meeting representative of all opinions, and presided over by the administrator of the parish. A petition has also been signed by over 400 persons, 200 of whom are farmers, in the locality, pointing out the great inconvenience involved in having these mills shut. The mills serve an area with a radius of approximately 30 miles. They were a great convenience to the people who now have to endure extraordinary hardships, firstly, because of the fact that they are unable to get their grain ground in the vicinity of their homes and, secondly, because they have to travel up to 30 miles to get such grain ground.
The Minister will understand that transport to-day for the farmer is confined to the ordinary horse and cart. After travelling a long journey to the mill farmers have to wait their turn to get their grain crushed and frequently they are obliged to turn home without getting that done at all. I was speaking recently to a man who lives at Ballycolman and who was compelled to travel practically up to the City of Cork, near Carrigtuohill, to get his grain crushed. He lost the entire day and in the end had to return home without being able to get it crushed. That is why I say the interests of the public are vitally affected by the enforcement of this Order.
I do not intend to go into all the details disclosed when these cases came before the courts. I am quite aware that one of the mill owners did not apply for a permit, but an extenuating circumstance in that case was that the owner of the mill—a man of the highest possible repute, an exceptionally decent man and a man who has at all times conformed to the law —happened to be in hospital and the place was not under his personal supervision. When this case was tried, it was sworn that the wheat in question was not millable wheat, and the justice in summing up stated that he regarded the offence as a trivial one. He would have dealt with it as such, but on the representations of the inspector he dealt rather harshly with it. That phase has passed, however, and I am not concerned with it. What I am concerned with is the question of the convenience to the public. I would point out especially the service these mills rendered to the public and the difficulties which the public have now to meet in getting wheat milled as a result of the closing of these mills.
Another aspect of the matter is that the particular mill of Mr. Ronayne is an old established mill run by water-power and it serves an area even greater than that I have already mentioned. It appears that the work was exceptionally well done there and grain came to the mill from districts as far away as Cappoquin and Lismore. Another advantage attached to these mills was the splendid storage accommodation where the farmers of that area could store their grain, get it partially kiln-dried and keep it in the most perfect condition for seed purposes. Much of the deplorable losses that have arisen owing to the poor germination of seed would have been avoided if we had more accommodation such as was provided at Mr. Ronayne's mill. The Minister I am sure will also appreciate the desirability, owing to the present shortage of electric current, of keeping in existence mills which are run by water-power.
The next point that arises is the displacement of labour caused by the closing of these mills. I am sure it is not the wish of the Minister that the operators of four mills should be thrown idle. That is a point that the Minister should seriously take into consideration. I do not, as I have already stated, wish to condone or in any way palliate any irregularities which may have led to the Minister's action in shutting these mills and I am fully sensible of the necessity in the present situation for strict compliance with Orders which are issued by the Minister. I think, however, that on the facts which I have given to the House, the Minister will be disposed to give a favourable decision in these cases. I should like him to give that decision on the four points I have submitted. The first and most dominant point is the great inconvenience which the closing of these mills entails for the public. Secondly, there is the desirability of retaining in operation mills which are worked by water-power; thirdly, the desirability of keeping as many men as possible in employment, and fourthly, the fact that the public are now denied the accommodation formerly provided at Mr. Ronayne's mills for storing and holding in proper condition the seed necessary for the coming year.
If the Minister realised the great advantage it is to the people of that district to be enabled to store their wheat in proper conditions so that they may have proper seed for the following year, I think he would have no hesitation in reconsidering the Closing Order. In fact, it would be a decided advantage to the agricultural community generally if we had many more mills of that description. There is also the fact that if these mills are not reopened, the men formerly employed will be unable to find any other suitable employment. On these points I would strongly urge the Minister to consider favourably the reopening of the mills. The owners have learned a lesson. They have learned that they must obey strictly any regulations which the Minister may make, and if they are permitted to resume operations in their mills, I am sure that the Minister will not have any reason to complain in future. I would ask the Minister to visualise the plight of unfortunate people who are compelled to travel long distances to get their grain ground at other mills, and who frequently have to turn home without being successful. Frequently they have to travel a distance of 30 miles and in the end have to return home without getting the grain ground. I would ask the Minister to take those points into consideration in replying to this matter.