asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will undertake to negotiate with the Belfast spinners in order to arrive at an equitable price for the Twenty-Six County flax crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flax Price.
Mr. Walsh
I understand that the Association of Flax Growers and Scutch Mill Owners have arranged to sell their flax to the Belfast spinners, and in the circumstances there does not appear to be any need for my intervention.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, in view of the importance of the flax crop in the Ulster counties does he not think that the present method of arriving at price agreements is most unsatisfactory, in the first place, because the representatives sent to the Belfast flax spinners are not the type of people who can negotiate satisfactory agreements? I think that he should take some steps to have a better arrangement or agreement negotiated.
Mr. Walsh
Representatives of the growers have met the spinners and have made an agreement with them that they are prepared to sell at world market prices. That is the information I have in my possession. An association was formed last year for flax growers throughout the country and these are the people who have been negotiating. I have been informed there are a number of flax growers who have not come into the association but the great majority have come in, and have made this agreement.
Is the Minister prepared to deal with these Belfast interests in the same determined manner as his predecessor did and make them treat the southern flax growers as they should be treated?
Tell them "go to blazes"?
They would have to pay the price.