asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state for the information of farmers, who intend to go in for pig feeding, when they may expect supplies of maize at £19 per ton.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maize Supplies.
The cost of maize to farmers in this country depends primarily on the price at which it can be purchased abroad. Although every effort is being made to effect purchases at the cheapest rate, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when maize will be available to farmers at £19 per ton. An announcement will shortly be made regarding maize prices as from 1st January, 1949.
Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Agriculture promised maize at £18 a ton on the 4th October and mentioned that millers were charging £7 for handling and distributing maize? At the moment there is a cargo of maize being discharged in Cork, and can the Minister tell us if the milling combine will get £7 a ton for handling and distributing that maize?
I am aware that that statement was made and also that every effort is being and has been made to carry out that undertaking. But the Deputy must also be aware that prices are fluctuating and that this country, together with other buying countries, is resisting the effort to increase the price.
Is the Minister aware that the statement made by the Minister for Agriculture had the effect of knocking the bottom out of the oats market and was apparently made with that object?
The Minister is aware of the fact that the Deputy is misrepresenting the Minister for Agriculture and that that is a permanent feature of his activities.
Will the Minister say what are the farmers to do who bought young pigs on the assumption that the Minister for Agriculture would carry out his promise to give them cheap maize by 4th October?
Is the Deputy trying to sabotage the pig market now?
The pig industry will have an opportunity under this Administration that it had not under the previous Administration, to develop and expand.