asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the date on which representations were first made to him to fix a minimum price for oats of the 1948 crop, the date on which the Government scheme for the purchase of oats was put into operation and the reason for the delay in the initiation of the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oats Purchase Scheme.
Representations were first made to me early in September to fix a minimum price for oats of the 1948 crop. The decision to operate the present oats purchase scheme was taken on the 14th November, 1948, and invitations to merchants to participate were issued shortly afterwards. At the time when the representations were made to me I did not consider that such a scheme was desirable or necessary. I still do not consider that such a scheme would have been necessary if farmers were prepared to utilise their oats in the most profitable way, that is, by feeding it to live stock on the farm, and were not misled by malicious propagandists into rushing to sell all their available supplies before the middle of December.
Deputies
Rubbish!
Is the Minister aware that the delay in putting the oats scheme into operation was a cause of serious hardship and loss to a considerable number of farmers who were compelled by economic circumstances to sell their oats before the scheme was put into operation?
I am not so aware.