asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the substantial increase in the cost of production that will result from the increases in wages granted by the Agricultural Wages Board, he will now adjust the fixed price of wheat to meet the increased costs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Prices Adjustment.
As I said in reply to Deputy Keating's question on the 29th April, I do not propose to increase the price already announced for wheat of the 1947 crop.
The Minister appreciates that since he made that reply to Deputy Keating the Agricultural Wages Board has advanced wages by 6/- a week, which is a substantial increase. By what means does the Minister hope that that will be met by the agricultural community? Surely the Minister appreciates that they are entitled to some advance in order to meet increased costs?
I am sure the Agricultural Wages Board have had all these factors before them when they arrived at their decision with regard to the wage now in operation.
Surely the Minister appreciates that it was not on the ability of the farmer to pay but because of the higher cost of living that the Agricultural Wages Board approached this matter? He must appreciate that they approached it because the income of the agricultural worker was too low in view of the rising cost of living and the board was not concerned so much with the other aspect of the problem. I suggest that is the Minister's responsibility and he ought to consider it.
I have no evidence that that is so.
The Minister knows it.
Is the Minister not aware that in a question that he put to the Minister for Local Government, probably six months ago, Deputy Hughes stated that most farmers were paying much above the minimum wage fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board? Probably that attitude on the part of Deputy Hughes on that occasion might have had some influence on the Labour Court.
Is Deputy Harris trying to argue that the farmers' prices are good enough? Is he trying to argue that the farmer is not entitled to a higher price? Answer that.
Supplementary questions must be addressed to the Minister, not to Deputies.