asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in order to bring the maximum quantity of farmers' butter into the butter pool for rationing purposes, to stimulate production, and to apply equal treatment to creamery and home-produced butter, he will consider fixing a price for farmers' butter of good quality comparable with the all-in cost of the creamery article and pay a similar subsidy through licensed purchasers so that consumers can purchase creamery and farmers' butter at the same price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Farmers' Butter.
The bulk of farmers' butter produced is either consumed on the farms or sold in immediate proximity to the point of production. Many proposals have been made to me as to how the largest possible amount offered for sale might be brought into a pool which would enable the producer of such butter to be paid for it at a rate equivalent to the creamery price, and have the further advantage that it would be subject to a rationing scheme. I am having early consultation with the interests affected, but it will be some time before I am able to make any statement on the matter.