asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has anything further to report on negotiations for guaranteed prices for flax and the quantity to be grown this year, and if there is to be any limitation, how it is proposed to arrange for control.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Flax.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement issued by me in the matter, copy of which was published in the daily Press on the 4th March.
Am I to take it that in the event of farmers in the flax-growing areas growing flax they will do so without any assurance whatever of their being able to obtain the prices offered by the Northern spinners?
I can only say to the Deputy that in the statement to which I have referred him, having set out the facts, I went on to say:—
"The proposal to raise the price of flax to the Northern Ireland farmers by 4/- a stone at the same time as the price for Irish flax is to be reduced by 2/6 a stone is so obviously and offensively inequitable that the Minister for Agriculture cannot accept any responsibility for such an arrangement.
Farmers, accordingly, are strongly advised to employ land reserved for flax to sow other crops.
Anyone who wishes to grow flax for sale on the terms proposed, that is, 32/- per stone for grade 5 dam retted hand scutched flax, is, of course, perfectly free to do so and take his chance of being able to sell after the harvest but, if anyone does so, he does it at his own risk and in the full knowledge that the Department of Agriculture does not recommend it and can give no assurance whatever of a satisfactory market for it."
That advice, I can assure the Deputy, is given only after the most careful reflection, and with the desire to ensure that no farmer to whom we are responsible will be left to the tender mercies of the flax spinners with whom every conceivable effort has been made to reach a reasonable agreement, but with whom, as far as I can see, it is quite impossible to do so.
How can the Minister justify his failure to effect an agreement with the Northern Ireland spinners on the grounds of a discrepancy as between the price offered here and that paid to the Six-County growers, in view of the fact that other agricultural produce is disposed of by us on foot of an agreement made by him providing for prices less than those obtainable by Northern Ireland and British farmers, say in the case of eggs, beef and other farm produce?
The Deputy probably has not appreciated the significance of the fact that the Northern Ireland spinners raised the price of flax for their own growers and at the same time reduced the price of flax here. The Northern Ireland spinners, for the first time, sought to introduce the principle of a limited market on our farmers while, in collaboration with the Stormont Government, there was to be an unlimited market for the growers of Northern Ireland. I cannot see that the Government of this country should collaborate in an arrangement of that character, which appears to me to be obviously and offensively inequitable.
I wish to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment to-night.
A Deputy
On behalf of Brooke?
It is a very injurious thing to do, but I will meet the Deputy. It is a shamelessly irresponsible thing.
You have too many babies in your arms these days.
It is a vicious thing to do.