At the very outset I would like to express my amazement that the movers of this motion continue to address their remarks to it since the Minister, in reply to a question put down here by Deputy Palmer and myself, assured us that it was his intention to set up an expert and impartial authority to go into the matter of costings in relation to the dairying industry and to do so at a very early date. We accepted that promise in good faith. What construction, therefore, can we put on the continuance of this motion other than that the Deputies who proposed and seconded it either have a lack of confidence in the word of the Minister on their own side of the House or that it is an arrangement that they be provided with a platform to air their views.
So far we have had a contribution from the proposer and seconder of the motion and from the Minister for Agriculture. I must say that I was pleased with the confident note struck by the Minister for Agriculture. It would seem that he has become enthused with a little confidence in the Department for which he is now responsible. His attitude is a complete reversal of the doleful and sad prognostications which we were accustomed to hear from him and his colleagues when they were in opposition. However, I do not agree with everything he said.
On the 14th of this month he repeated a falsehood in this House— column 805 of the Official Report of the Dáil Debates—that, actually, no increase had been granted between 1947 and 1951 in the price of milk. He failed to advert to the fact that in 1947 the farmers were leaving their skim milk to the creameries at a price of 2d. per gallon although production in that year was only 154,250,000 gallons. In 1948, when the inter-Party Government took office, production increased under the aegis of Deputy Dillon who was then Minister for Agriculture to 170,000,000 gallons. In 1949 it reached the all-time high figure of 206,750,000 gallons. That indicates that the industry was making steady progress. Side by side with that, although a higher price was obtainable for the skim milk at the creameries, the farmers were taking home all they could get of that commodity because, as a result of the 1948 trade agreement, they were able to feed that skim milk to calves, young pigs, poultry and so forth—which is something which they could not do in 1947.
The Minister was naïve in suggesting to the Opposition that his Party would not avail of this matter for the purpose of achieving cheap popularity because the problem of the dairying industry was the spearhead of the political campaign in the south of Ireland in the recent general election. In the country, the inter-Party Government was pilloried as having neglected the interests of the dairy farmer. The people went to the polls on that issue. In my own constituency of North Cork and in West Cork, East Cork, South Kerry, North Kerry, Limerick, Clare and all the dairying counties the inter-Party Government was given an overwhelming mandate to maintain the policy which they were implementing on behalf of the dairying industry and all sections in relation to agriculture as well as other Departments. A different attitude was adopted in Cork City in relation to dairying. It was put up to the citizens of Cork City that the inter-Party Government were remiss in adding an impost of 2d. per lb. on the price of butter to the unfortunate consumer. It is hardly necessary to dwell on what the consumer has suffered since.
The Minister further stated that he is not aware of the economic price of milk and that he has no proof that the present price is not an economic one. When he was in opposition he was quite emphatic in advocating a price of 1/6 per gallon. Of course, that price to-day would bear no comparison to the costs of production as they are now. I intend to indicate some increases that have taken place since then. I have the word of the proposer of the motion that the last increase granted in the price of milk has been completely absorbed by the increase in wages and by further increases affecting the dairying industry. Deputy Corry makes incessant play in this House of the importation of butter. The Minister was quite right to reprove him and in pointing out that the reason for it is the increased standard of living of our people. Over the past four years the consumption of butter has increased by one and a-half ounces per head of the population. Of course, another contributing factor is the expansion which has taken place in our export trade of chocolate crumb, dried milk and condensed milk. The Minister, however, was not correct in stating that the chocolate crumb industry in my area was not expanded in recent years. I hope he will turn a deaf ear on those Deputies sitting on the Government benches who advocate a restriction in output of these valuable exports.
I am amazed that, so far, not one reference has been made by any contributor to this discussion in support of a scheme to increase the gallonage of our dairy herds. Some form of embarrassment seems to permeate the Government Benches in this connection. There was no reference to schemes introduced by the last Minister for Agriculture—schemes such as the land project, the Local Authorities (Works) Act, the Farm Buildings Scheme, cheaper ground limestone, a scheme for the elimination of uneconomic cattle, a scheme for a more scientific approach to the improvement of the soil of this country, the striking advances which have been made in the matter of veterinary attention to our dairy herds, and many other schemes also. The Minister stated that the reduction which we experienced last year was attributable to the weather conditions. I was very glad to hear that honest statement and to know that the Minister concurred with Deputy Murphy when he made that suggestion, because when Deputy Dillon was Minister for Agriculture he was even alleged to be responsible for the bad weather.
I exhort the Minister to facilitate the extension of the erection of silos. I believe we would not be affected so much by weather conditions if we went in more for ensilage. I also ask the Minister, in the administration of his Department, to employ every means at his disposal to develop cow testing schemes, so as to make it attractive for farmers to ascertain the correct milk yields of their individual cows.
So far, my remarks have indicated progress, but we must now look at the other side of the picture. Production costs continue to increase to a disturbing extent. This is noticeable to an alarming degree in the prices of properly balanced feeding rations for dairy cattle.
Labour costs have already been adverted to. The mover of the motion was quite correct in saying that the last increase was completely absorbed in consequence. A labouring man is taken up for a half day in transporting the milk to the creamery. Difficulties in securing milkers to return on Sundays and holidays are increasing more and more. Milking machines, when properly manipulated, are proving a great boon in relieving the situation. The House must appreciate, however, that the small farmer cannot afford to avail of this amenity. High interest loans and their purchase have been pertinently adverted to to-day by Deputy Finucane. I believe that the reply he received from the Minister was not encouraging in that respect.
We are all in complete agreement that the grasslands of our country require a considerable amount of fertilisers. Present prices, which, we are told, may be surpassed in a month's time, place manures outside the capabilities of our farmers to purchase. Restriction of credit to merchants in the present crisis is adding still more to the difficulties attending this situation. Transport costs—I am referring to the cost of transport of milk to creameries— continue to present an ever-increasing problem. The humble ass cart, spring car or converted truck, which are utilised, have all rocketed in price in recent months. Insurance and petrol are hitting the hardest, while repairs, whether at garage, forge or carpentry works, run up closely the initial cost of these.
Progressing from the question of costs, overheads present another disturbing picture. The amount of rates payable to local authorities has increased by alarming proportions. The last White Paper was issued in 1947 setting the price at that time. I am not advocating the slightest curtailment in the many schemes of social necessity, but it would be only just to suggest that expenditure, such as the upkeep of main roads, mental hospitals and vocational education, should be borne by the State.
I am indeed surprised that the promoters of this motion omitted one very strong argument in favour of immediate remedial action by the Government in granting a fair margin of profit to the creamery suppliers. We hear every section complaining of the increase in the price of this, that and the other thing. I contend that the tradesman, professional man and merchant have a steady income in the winter months with certain exceptions. Generally speaking, they have a steady income, but in the case of the small dairy farmer there is not a penny to be got from the creamery throughout the whole of the winter months. During those months he has to rely on the merchants in the small towns and villages and on his co-operative society to facilitate him with credit until such time as the cows come into milk again and the cheques once again are available to meet the debts which he incurred over the winter months. Therefore, the impact of the cost of living at the present moment is as much a concern to the small dairy farmer as it is to any other section of the community. I am sure it was an inadvertence on the part of Deputy Corry and Deputy Cogan that they forgot to refer to the increase in the cost of living.
There is another factor which should be well borne in mind by the Government. In 1947, when this White Paper was issued, there was no competition from the fattening industry. Consequently, the price prevailing then was not subjected to the same competition and farmers maintained their dairy herds because they had no other means from which to derive a livelihood. The position to-day is very different. I know that. Even some of the most progressive farmers in my constituency, as indicated by the returns from the Munster bull sales, are to-day purchasing Hereford bulls which is an indication that it is their intention to leave dairying and go in for fattening. That is not a happy augury in our present situation. Neither is it that tattooed heifers are taken into the open fairs and sold there. That, of course, indicates that the farmer takes in the good animal because he is caught up for cash.
Although we accept and appreciate the Minister's guarantee that this board will be formed in the very near future, nevertheless, we know from experience that their deliberations will last over quite some period. Consequently, I would suggest that a tribunal be set up which would be in a position to go into the matter much quicker and to make an interim report to the Minister so that the board, which is contemplated, will have more time to go into the many facets of our dairying industry and provide whatever Minister will be in office, when the report is available, with all the required statistics and all the facts which will clear away from the political scene all this question of making political capital out of the difficulties which attend the dairying farmers.
