asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that dairy farmers in the creamery areas have been experiencing severe hardship in recent months owing to increasing costs of production, the uneconomic basic price of milk, a considerable fall in calf prices, the prevalence of contagious abortion and other diseases, the locking up of herds under the Bovine Tuberculosis Scheme, the steep rise in rates and the lack of adequate fodder and grass caused by inclement weather; and that a situation has now been reached where it is becoming almost impossible for many farmers to continue in business; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to alleviate the position before the farmers concerned are forced to take drastic action.
63.