Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price Increases. – Dáil Éireann (14th Dáil) – Wednesday, 31 Oct 1951

Mr. Norton

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the list of commodities or services which have been increased in price since the 14th June, 1951, with his approval, and the amount of the increase in each case.

Mr. Cosgrave

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the articles, commodities or services for which he has sanctioned an increase in price since 13th June, 1951, the present maximum price or charge and that prevailing on the 13th June; (b) the number of cases in which price increases have been sanctioned on the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body, and (c) the cases in which they have been sanctioned without any reference to the Prices Advisory Body.

Mr. MacBride

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give particulars of the commodities that have increased in price, together with the retail price increase, with his approval or the approval of the Government since the 14th of June last.

Mr. S. Collins

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the number of items of (a) food, (b) household utensils, and (c) general goods which have increased in price since he came into office.

Mr. Lemass

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 16 together and to have circulated with the Official Report a statement giving the Deputies the information which they require in so far as the increases in prices and charges were sanctioned by me. I am not in a position to give reliable information as to increases in prices of food, household utensils and general goods which are not at present subject to price control. Any question concerning price increases approved by any other Minister should be addressed to the Minister concerned. In all cases, increased prices and charges were made on the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body except in the cases of Electricity Supply Board and transport charges, butter, sugar, hides and cocoa.

Following is the statement:—

(a) Articles, Commodities or Services for which an increase in price has been sanctioned by the Minister for Industry and Commerce since 13th June, 1951.

Articles, Commodities or Services	Maximum Retail Price or Charge
At Present	On 13th June, 1951
Creamery butter	3/-per lb.	2/10d. per lb.
Cocoa	8½ per ¼ lb.	6d. per ¼ lb.
Sugar—other than rationed sugar	8½d per lb.	8d. per lb.
Electricity supplied by the Electricity Supply Board	0.3d. per unit over charges on 13th June, 1951 (for night storage heating 0.2d. per unit over charges on 13th June, 1951.)
Native cattle hides	Increase of 2d. per lb.	Various.
Charge for salting hides	2/2d. per hide	1/10d. per hide.
Fresh Milk
As there are seasonal variations in the prices of this commodity, the present fixed maximum retail prices are not comparable with the fixed maximum retail prices on 13th June, 1951.
Cheese—
Cheddar	2/5d. per lb.	2/1d. per lb.
“Galtee” and “Golden Vale” ¼ lb. round boxes containing 6 portions increase 1¾d. each	2/8d. per lb.	2/3d. per lb.
Packed and Canned Peas and Beans
Dried peas—6 oz. packet	7d. (other sizes cooked or processed peas in proportion).	6d.
Ready cooked or processed beans	9d., 1/-, 1/1½d., 1/6d., 2/5d. per can.	8d., 10½d., 1/-, 1/4d., 2/3d. per can.
Ready cooked or processed beans with pork	1/-, 1/6d., 2/10d. per can.	10½d., 11d., 1/4d., 1/5d., 2/8d., per can.
Condensed Milk
Condensed full cream, per tin	1/2d. and 1/3½d.	1/- and 1/2d.
Condensed skimmed milk, per tin	10d.	8½d.
Ale	1d. per pint draft, and ½d. per halfpint bottle over September, 1947, price.	Price charged in September, 1947.
Soap and Detergents
Household soap — 12 oz. bar	10d., 1/- and 1/1d.	9d., 11d. and 1/-.
Toilet Soap—3 oz. tablet	6½d. to 1/3d.	6d. to 1/2½d.
Detergents—medium container	8d. and 10d.	7d. and 9d.
large ,,	11d. and 1/1d.	10d. and 1/-.
Sewing thread per 100 yards	Ranging from 5d. to 5½d.	Ranging from 3d. to 4½d.
Petroleum Products
Kerosene	1/10d. per gal.	1/8d. per gal.
Motor Spirit—per gallon:
Dublin Zone—sold in containers	3/2¾d.	3/0¾d.
ex pump	3/2½d.	3/0¼d.
Remainder of State—
sold in containers	3/3¾d.	3/1¾d.
ex pump	3/3¼d.	3/1¼d.
Coal
Various increases in different areas
Coffee Essence (1 manufacturer)	1/6d. and 2/9d. per bottle.	1/4½d. and 2/6d. per bottle.
Sweets and Chocolates
Various increases ranging from 4d. per lb. to 1/- per lb. for products of individual manufacturers consequent on increase in sugar price.
	Manufacturers' Price
	At Present	On 13th June, 1951
Imported Timber
Pitch Pine	27/- per cu. ft.	22/10d. per cu. ft.
Douglas Fir	16/6d. ,, ,,	12/10d. ,, ,,
Tiles (1 mfr.)
Interlocking roof tiles	Increase 30/- per 1,000 over price on 13th June, 1951.
Pan tiles	,, 30/	do.
Brosley tiles	,, 15/-	do.
Ridge and hip tiles	,, 1?d. each.	do.
Wallboard (1 mfr.)	5d. and 6¾d. per sq. ft.	4?d. and 6¼d. per sq. ft.
Cement	Surcharge of 10/- per ton.	increased to £1 2s. 6d. per ton.
Steel (1 mfr.)	£40 per ton	£32 per ton
Bolts (1 mfr.)	Increases ranging from 2/9d. to 7/3d. per 100
Paints, Distempers, Varnishes (1 mfr.)	Increases ranging from 2% to 25%
Slates (1 Quarry)	Increase of 10% in prices
Glass bottles and glass (1 mfr.)	Increase of 5% (milk bottles excepted)
Industrial Gases (1 mfr.)
Oxygen	37/- per 1,000 cu. ft.	35/6 per 1,000 cu. ft.
Dissolved Acetylene	185/- ,, ,, ,,	165/- ,, ,, ,,
Yeast\|	58/6d. per 56 lb. basket	50/6d. per 56 lb. basket.
Methylated Spirit \| (1 mfr.)	9/6 per gallon	8/6 per gallon.
Lime (1 mfr.)
Lump Lime	£5 2s. 6d. per ton	£4 12s. 6d. per ton.
Hydrated Lime	£8 0s. 0d. per ton	£6 12s. 6d. per ton.
Acid Calcium Phosphate (1 mfr.)	£69 10s. 0d. per ton	£64 0s. 0d. per ton.
Pottery (1 mfr.)	1939 prices 90%	1939 prices 75%.
Gas—various increases in different centres consequent on increase in the cost of coal.
Pedal Bicycles (4 assemblers)—Increases for various makes and models ranging from 10/9 to £1 16s. 9d. per machine.
Cutlery—5% to 10% increase on prices.
In addition to the foregoing authorised increases in prices the Minister, on the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body, issued 27 Directions under the Prices and Charges Standstill Order, 1951 (which Order was later revoked), authorising the following increases:—
Anthracite Coal (1 Mining Company)	Increases ranging from 5/- to 20/- per ton, according to grade, over prices on 13th June, 1951.

Coke (17 Gas Undertakings)
Prices on 13th June, 1951—ranging from	£5 10 0 to £6 10 0 per ton.
Increased prices authorised— ,, ,,	£7 0 0 to £8 10 0 per ton.
The increases ranged from—	£1 0 0 to £2 15 0 per ton.

Bórd na Mona	Increased price per ton authorised.	Price per ton 13 th June, 1951.
Machine Turf	£2	16	10	£2	7	6
Turf Briquettes	£4	0	0	£3	10	0
Baled Briquettes	£4	15	0	£4	5	0

Linseed Oil	(1 mfr.)	ranging from £175 to £190 per ton	ranging from £160 to £175 per ton
Cake and Meal	ranging from £26 to £36 5 0 per ton.	ranging from £25 to £35 5 0 per ton.

Advertising Rates (4 newspapers and 1 magazine).	Increases of 50% over rates charged in December, 1950 in 4 cases; 15% in the other case.
Laundry Charges (1 Laundry)	Increase of 1½d. on the surcharge in the shilling.
Table Jellies (2 mfrs.)	Prices on 13th June, 1951—8½d. and 9d. per tablet.
	Increased prices authorised 9d. and 9½d. per tablet.

Road Passenger Charges:

(Operators other than C.I.E.)

Charges	Present Maximum	Maximum prevailing on 13th June, 1951
Omnibus fares	Within 8 miles of G.P.O., Dublin 1½d. per mile.	1?d. per mile.
	Outside 8 miles of G.P.O., Dublin 2d. per mile.	1¾d. per mile.
Motor Coach fares	4d. per mile	3d. per mile.
Merchandise carried by omnibus	16? per cent increase on scale	as per scale according to weight.

Rail Charges

The following increases have been sanctioned since 13th June, 1951:—

G.N.R. Co. (Ireland)	Maximum passenger rail charges—varying increases up to 12½ per cent. or thereabouts.
Co. Donegal Railways
Joint Committee
Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Co.	Maximum goods and live stock rail charges—increases of 16? per cent. or thereabouts.
Derry and Lough Swilly Railway Company	Maximum goods rail charges—increases of 16? per cent. or thereabouts.

Harbour Rates

The Harbour Rates (Dungarvan Harbour) Order, 1951, made on 13th July, 1951, authorised increased maximum goods and tonnage rates at Dungarvan Harbour.

Exact comparisons with the rates in force on 13th June, 1951, cannot be made as the basis of charge has been altered.

Mr. Norton

In view of the fact that prices have increased since June last when this Government took office, does the Minister now realise that it was a cynical fraud on the people to promise them, as Fianna Fáil did during the election campaign, a reduction in prices?

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1951