asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that there is an acute shortage of milk churns used for the conveyance of new milk to creameries from farms and of separated milk from creameries to farmyards; and that the repair of churns is impossible owing to the scarcity of suitable tin; and, if so, and in view of the fact that the scarcity of churns will inevitably have serious repercussions on the milk industry, if he will state what are the prospects of increased supplies of churns and of suitable repairing tin becoming available in the near future to meet the requirements of the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Churns.
I am aware that owing to the virtual cessation of imports of milk churns from Great Britain for the last three years there is an acute shortage of these churns. Representations which I caused to be made last year to the British authorities for the release of a quantity for creameries in this country were unsuccessful. No supplies of tinplate suitable for the repair of churns have been obtained for several years. I can hold out no prospect of supplies of new churns or material for the repair of existing ones being obtained in the near future from Great Britain, but attempts are being made to locate supplies of churns elsewhere.