asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate if it will be possible for merchants in rural areas who install drying plants to obtain the maximum price for dried wheat payable at present only to the millers throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dried Wheat Price.
Mr. Walsh
It is presumed that the price referred to by the Deputy is the price payable by flour millers for artificially dried wheat purchased from licensed wheat dealers. It is not proposed to extend the present list of licensed wheat dealers and, therefore, merchants who are not so licensed may not purchase wheat from growers for resale. Merchants who have drying facilities or propose to provide such facilities are, however, free to negotiate with the flour millers for the drying of wheat on their behalf.
Arising out of the reply, as I know the position at the present moment, there are 36 people in this country who can dry wheat. A good many merchants have applied to those concerned and have been refused drying facilities. Would the Minister not care to make representations to the millers himself on their behalf? Further, if I might suggest with the changing conditions and combined harvesters being used now every merchant has got to install dryers at considerable expense and it is not economic for them to do so. They are going to be at a heavy loss unless given the right to get the dry price for wheat as against the green price.
Does the Deputy want to make a speech?
It is a long question.
Mr. Walsh
There is nothing to prevent millers entering into an agreement with any merchant in the country and making arrangements to have the wheat dried for them. As regards the number of dealers who are dryers it is not our intention to increase that number.
I appreciate that, but does the Minister appreciate that flour millers have virtually in this country a monopoly and that many merchants up and down the country have made representations to them and have been informed point blank by the Flour Millers' Association that they have control of the matter and do not intend to surrender it? It is throwing a lot of hardship back on the farmer who is the producer and on the merchant as well.
Mr. Walsh
It is not throwing any hardship on the producer but it is guaranteeing that wheat purchased by the millers and manufactured by them into flour is dried in a proper way.
Does the Minister suggest that only the millers are capable of drying wheat in that way?
Mr. Walsh
Yes, I do.
It is a great thing to get that clear, because nobody in the country will agree with you. That is nonsense.