asked the Taoiseach if he will state (a) the price c.i.f. of the last five cargoes of maize received at Irish ports; (b) the average retail price of maize meal and (c) the average ex-mill price of maize meal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Maize.
(a) The average c.i.f. prices per ton of the last five cargoes of maize imported up to the end of April, 1953, were £28 16s. 7d.; £28 18s. 2d.; £28 9s. 4d.; £28 5s. 6d.; and £27 17s. 5d. (b) The average retail price of maize meal in the month of April, 1953, was 38/10 per cwt. (c) Data are not available to enable an average ex-mill price of maize meal to be computed, but it is understood that the ex-mill price of maize meal in April, 1953, varied from £36 to £37 per ton.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary direct the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Industry and Commerce to the fact that the retail price of Indian meal is £38 10s. 0d. manufactured from corn the average price of which is £28 5s. 0d. and will he inquire of them whether they think that the differentialof £10 per ton for grinding maize into maize meal is an equitable charge for that service?
That is a separate question. Both are well over the £1 per cwt. that the Deputy used to be talking about.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider implementing Deputy Dillon's promise to the farmers of maize meal at £20 a ton?
The meal now costs £38 10s. 0d. manufactured from corn the price of which is £28.