asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what quantity of potatoes was supplied through the Potato Marketing Committee to the Cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway; where these supplies were secured and what price was paid the producer; to whom the potatoes were released and what price was charged and to what purpose it is proposed to apply any profit made out of these transactions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Marketing Committee.
A total of 1,063 tons of potatoes was sold by the Potato Marketing Company to factors in Dublin. I have no information as to the quantities that ultimately were sent to the other centres named by the Deputy.
The potatoes were sold in Dublin and the Potato Marketing Company advertised the fact that they were prepared to supply the trade. The potatoes were procured chiefly in the principal potato-growing districts and were bought at varying rates depending on the prices prevailing there at the time of purchase. Prices charged by the company varied from £13 to £16 per ton according to variety. No profit was made by the company on these transactions nor was it ever intended that a profit should be made.
Were these potatoes distributed to all Dublin potato factors?
Any potato factor who requested them was entitled to have them at the same price as that which was charged to any other applicant.
Was there any stipulation as to the amount of potatoes which he must take?
Not that I am aware of except, I suppose, if he came up and asked for half a stone of potatoes he would be sent elsewhere; but any ordinary quantity that would ordinarily be purchased by a factor was, I understand, readily available to all.
Were they available at all times from the first release to these Dublin factors?
Subject to the usual reservation that if he came for them at 3 o'clock in the morning he would not get them.
Is it not a fact that they were released in the early stages to the Dublin producer-consumer market?
There is no truth whatever in that. They were available to all at all times at the same price and in quantities calculated to smash the ring that was trying to black market potatoes in Dublin.