(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider the formulation of standard tests and conditions for wheat millability to be carried out at an independent centre equally accessible to both farmers and millers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Millability.
12.
For some years past joint efforts have been made between the Department, growers and millers to work out standards of wheat millability without success. Recently the Flour Millers have put forward standards. I understand discussions have been held between the principal interests concerned but I have received no official intimation that these are acceptable to all concerned.
(South Tipperary): Would the Minister not agree that where biophysical tests have been used there were differences of interpretation and that in the absence of agreement it would be desirable to accept the idea of an independent laboratory?
The Minister would like to get the other parties to come to an agreement which he would naturally sanction. He is still hoping that there will be an agreement between the two parties, that is, the suppliers and the millers.
(South Tipperary): If there is no agreement will he then consider the matter?
If there is no agreement he will have to consider the position.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he regards the laboratory test standards of millability announced by the flour millers association for next year's wheat harvest as representing a more stringent approach to the acceptance of native wheat for flour milling; and what is the position of his Department in relation to this announcement; and how it affects the Wheat Order.
I have seen the announcement by the millers as to the standards of wheat millability. No official comment has been conveyed to me from the growers as to what they think of these standards. The proposed standards do not affect the Wheat Order.
Would the Minister for Agriculture, with the help of his Department, not be in a position to say if such standards as he has seen, according to his answer, suggest a more stringent approach?
The growers' representatives have stated their objection to the interpretation of the standards rather than to the standards themselves, in other words, as to who should have the last word. As I said in answer to the previous question, the Minister is waiting to see if the parties concerned will come to some agreement.
Surely from the information in his Department the Minister is in position to answer my question as to whether or not the standards mentioned indicate greater stringency?
I do not think——
"Yes" or "No".
I do not think the Minister should be called upon to express an opinion if the two parties are agreed on standards, which they appear to be.