asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that owing to the present high cost of compound feeding stuff, pig, poultry and milk producers are anxious to be in a position to purchase pollard directly from retailers; and, if so, whether he will arrange to have the total output of pollard and of bran allocated to shopkeepers and co-operative societies in proportion to their present supplies of flour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of Pollard and Bran.
As I stated in my reply to questions by Deputies Lehane and O'Grady on this subject on the 15th February, feeders could not be assured of a steady or adequate supply of bran and pollard even if the total output were made available for straight sale. In the circumstances I am satisfied that it is better to make available the total output of pollard for inclusion in balanced feeding stuffs so as to maximise available supplies of balanced rations rather than to have an inadequate supply available for straight sale, the total volume of which makes equitable distribution amongst consumers impossible. The total output of bran is now being reserved for straight sale through the usual trade channels.
In view of the opinions expressed by the Deputies I am having the question of raising the price and arranging for imports examined.
In view of the desire of farmers to purchase their feeding-stuffs in the natural and easily recognisable state, in view also of the fact that the mixture of pollard in a balanced feeding-stuff will not add to it one ounce more than if it were made available for straight sale; further, in view of the distrust which farmers entertain of millers since their experience of the time when oats were being mixed with maize in past years, I would request the Minister further to consider straight sale so that merchants who purchase flour in rural areas will get adequate supplies of pollard and thus make it available to the people in those areas.
I take it the Deputy fully appreciates that, in deference to his representations in this matter, I am now examining the proposal to raise the price of pollard from 14/- per cwt. to 22/- per cwt. and to arrange for the import of quantities which will make it possible equitably to distribute pollard so that it will be available to all those who wish to purchase it.
That will teach him to ask questions.
Am I to take it that the Minister's reply is that it is on my representations that this proposal to increase the price of pollard is made?
I can only tell the Deputy that I have twice tried to explain to himself and other Deputies who raised this matter that the total available supply of domestic pollard is controlled by the total quantity of flour milled in the country, that, as a result of that, the total available supply of pollard from domestic sources is not sufficient to give every man who wants pollard a stone of pollard every week, and that, therefore, if it is the considered judgment of Deputies that pollard should be made available in whatever quantities farmers wish to have it, I must import pollard and, if I import pollard, the world price of pollard stands to-day at a level which will impose an obligation upon me to distribute pollard in Ireland on a basis which will require the consumer to pay 22/- a cwt. for it. I know the Deputy will deplore a rise in the price of pollard as much as I do but neither he nor I can control the world price of pollard. I think I can keep things down as I am sure the Deputy would wish but I sometimes feel that perhaps the Deputy has not clearly envisaged the problem confronting me and, if he does see it as clearly as I see it, he will realise that its resolution is not so simple as might at first appear.