asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make personal contact with the British Minister for Food in an effort to arrange a better price for fat cattle during the coming stall-feeding season, as last winter's price was uneconomic and is not now a paying proposition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices of Cattle.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the present price arrangement with Great Britain tends to discourage the stall-feeding of cattle here; and whether, in view of the importance of producing the maximum quantity of farmyard manure by this means, he will say whether he has made any representations to the Minister of Food in Great Britain with a view to obtaining more adequate prices for stall-fed cattle for the coming season.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together. I am aware that the prices fixed by the British Ministry of Food for fat cattle offer little inducement to stall-feed cattle for the export market. The strongest case possible has been made to the Minister of Food to have prices increased during the winter months but without success.
Would I be right in saying that when representatives of the British Ministry of Food were here recently their attitude was that, when British farmers had stocked up, this matter would be considered?
They gave no promise of reconsideration at all.