asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that, owing to the greater amount of capital now required for stocking land, some farmers, unable to obtain sufficient credit through the banks, are obliged to let portion of their land, and whether he will consider arranging for seasonal loans to be given through the Agricultural Credit Corporation on the security of the stock, which could be held as the property of the Agricultural Credit Corporation until the loans were repaid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Credit Corporation.
The Deputy's question appears to envisage chattel mortgages secured on stock to be purchased with proceeds of the loan. Provided that the guarantee of two solvent sureties is forthcoming, such loans are available from the Agricultural Credit Corporation, but I should add that credit of this character is by no means universally to be recommended, as the temptation to pay excessive prices for stock bought in these circumstances has been shown, by frequent experience in the past, to be well-nigh irresistible.
May I ask the Minister if, in view of the general dissatisfaction in regard to credit facilities provided by the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the banks, he will cause a special committee to be set up to inquire——
That is a separate question.
I would prefer the Deputy to investigate the records of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, which I propose to give when I am submitting the Estimate to the House.