asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the present monthly allocations of maize meal to traders; (b) the price at which it is being sold by them to farmers; (c) how long our present stocks are expected to last at this rate of release; (d) if any allocations have been made this year by the International Emergency Food Council to this country, and, if not (e) what are the prospects of purchasing supplies elsewhere and at what price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price and Allocations of Maize.
My Department does not determine the allocations of maize meal to traders. Allocations of maize to maize meal millers are at present equivalent to 40 per cent. of the quantity of maize meal mixture manufactured in the cereal year 1938-39, the actual quantities being approximately 16,000 tons per month. The controlled maximum retail prices for maize meal are 27/8 per cwt. in the port areas and 28/8 per cwt. in the rest of the country. The maize now in stock will permit distribution to be maintained to the end of November, 1948.
The International Emergency Food Council has tentatively allocated to this country for the July-September quarter of 1948 a quantity of 75,000 tons of coarse grains, of which 70,000 are assigned for animal feeding.