asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that private millers have been refused an allocation of maize on the grounds that they were not in the maize-milling business in 1939-41; further, that allocations have been made by his Department to co-operative societies who are not and were never engaged in maize-milling; and if he will state if it is the policy of his Department to discriminate against private individuals as compared with co-operative societies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of Maize.
As the quantity of maize imported this year was very much less than requirements, distribution has been confined generally to persons and firms engaged in the business of milling maize during the year ended 31st July, 1939. A small portion of the imports has been reserved, however, for a limited number of co-operative societies which were not milling maize in this period but which have now the necessary facilities to do so. In making this exception in favour of these co-operative societies, I had regard to the fact that the business of milling maize would have been a normal development of their activities had maize imports not ceased temporarily during the war.