asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give an indication as to what the prospects are for the disposal of the 1952 flax crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Flax Crop.
Mr. Walsh
I have been informed by the Irish Scutch Millers' and Growers' Association that they have agreed with the Flax Spinners' Association, Belfast, that they (the spinners) will take up to a maximum of 1,250 tons of the 1952 flax crop. Assuming average yields, this tonnage would be equivalent to the produce of approximately 7,000 acres or slightly more than half the acreage under flax in 1951. In the circumstances any farmer growing flax this year is running the risk that he may not find a market for it and he would be well advised to consider using his land for the growing of crops for which there are assured outlets and remunerative prices.
Seeing that many farmers are already preparing to grow flax, is the Minister prepared to take steps to see that the present price of flax will be subsidised?
Mr. Walsh
There is not a market for flax, first of all.
May I ask the Minister this? Does he not tremble in his shoes to say that, seeing that he is sitting beside Deputy Patrick Smith who threatened me with assassination for saying the same thing?
For insulting our customers.
The Minister's supporters strongly advocated the growing of flax in West Cork. Many people who hitherto did not grow flax are growing it this year, and stand to lose £1 per stone when a comparison is made with last year's prices. I understand that the price this year is to be 32/5 as against 52/6 last year. In all fairness, I admit that the Minister should consider subsidising the price of the flax which is now growing.
Mr. Walsh
There is no question of the subsidisation of flax. The representatives of the flax growers made their own arrangements.
The position was misrepresented by strong supporters of your Party in West Cork. As a result of such misrepresentation, many people paid up to £14 per acre for suitable land on which to grow the flax. Those people contracted to take the land at £14 per acre and they will have to stand up to their contracts. They have entered into contracts with the people from whom they took the land. They now find that the price is down by £1 a stone, and there is the likelihood that there will be no market for the flax.
Mr. Walsh
I have already pointed out that I was not in negotiation with anybody in connection with the price of flax. The representatives of the growers were.
More shame to you.
Mr. Walsh
My information is that there is a market this year for about half the acreage grown last year.