asked the Minister for Agriculture if the proposed investigations into farmers' costings by his Department will begin in time to apply to the production of 1948 crops; if he will state the number of farms which will be investigated; and if they will be representative of the different sizes of holdings, types of agriculture and grades of soil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Costings.
I cannot hope that the costings organisation which as already announced I propose to set up in my Department can be brought into existence in time to advise me on prices for the 1948 season. I can give no information as to the procedure that will be followed when this organisation commences its work.
I think the Minister has misunderstood one portion of my question. I asked him if he would have machinery set up in order to inquire into the costings of growing crops for the next year, that is, to investigate the costings of producing various tillage crops during the coming year. I did not ask him whether he would base prices for the coming year on these costings. I merely asked him if he would have the machinery set up in order to be able to investigate costings with regard to various tillage crops.
I have replied that I do not hope to be able to have this organisation in existence to assist me in that matter in so far as the year 1948 is concerned.