asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will say what arrangements he has made with regard to the distribution of supplies of binder twine to retailers for the coming season; and whether farmers will get their full requirements for the harvest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Binder Twine.
My Department does not control the distribution of binder twine, but is collaborating with the distributors of the commodity to ensure that the distribution of available supplies will be as equitable as possible.
Retailers of the twines, in the aggregate, are being provided with 75 per cent. of last year's sales of the twine. The Emergency Powers (Unused Binder Twine) Order, 1942, restricts the use of binder twine to mechanical binders, and it is hoped that this restriction will result in an increase in the amount available for actual harvesting operations sufficient to meet substantially the requirements of farmers for the coming harvest.
Are we to take it that only 75 per cent. of the normal requirements is available for the country? If that is so, how will the other 25 per cent. of the harvest be saved?
75 per cent. of the quantity of twine used last year will be distributed. That is all there is to distribute.
That is all there is available?
That is all there is available.