asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has indicated to the Governments of the United States of America, Canada and Australia the quantities of wheat and flour which we shall require during the year September, 1947, to September, 1948; what quantities he has bespoken, and what reply he has received.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat and Flour Requirements.
I propose to take questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. The whole question of supplies of wheat from Australia, Canada and the United States of America in 1947-48 and succeeding years is being discussed at the International Wheat Conference, which is nearing conclusion in London. This country is represented at the conference. Until the result of this conference is known it is not possible to say what procedure will be adopted for the distribution of the world supplies of wheat in the next and subsequent cereal years.
A few days ago the International Emergency Food Council decided to try out a system of advance direct allocations to individual claimant countries from designated sources on a quarterly basis and immediate steps are being taken to indicate our requirements for the July-September quarter.
May we assume that it will be the Government's policy to ask of the International Emergency Food Council the maximum allocations of wheat that they are prepared to give and that we would be prepared to offer the International Emergency Food Council oats or barley for wheat if they would consider giving us an additional allocation to that originally provided under the general scheme as an exchange transaction?
The answer to the second part of the Deputy's question is in the negative. There is no point in offering oats or barley that we have not got.
Can we not get them? The Minister is aware that at his behest we can double and treble the output of oats and barley in this country without any difficulty whatever and pay a substantial profit to every farmer who grows these crops without a subsidy of any kind. Will the Minister not consider that?
Other countries which are looking for additional allocations of wheat can also grow oats and barley.
But these countries would take oats or barley, whereas our particular need is wheat. We could grow oats and barley to supply these countries if the Minister will persuade this body to supply us with wheat.