asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has considered the dissatisfaction which exists in certain creamery areas regarding the fact that suppliers have no opportunity to see their milk either weighed or butter fat tested; and if so, if he has arrived at any solution to this problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Testing.
35.
I have made arrangements for the establishment of a small study group comprising representatives of milk suppliers, creamery managers, the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society and my Department, to examine various matters in connection with the testing of milk deliveried to creameries. The question of butterfat testing mentioned by the Deputy will come within the scope of the group's examination.
No reason exists why creamery suppliers in any area should have difficulty in seeing their milk being weighed at the time of delivery.
If the Minister gets the names of stations where the milk is not weighed before the person who supplies it, will he take steps to see it is so weighed?
The Deputy seems to be under a misapprehension about this matter. Creameries are co-operative organisations and the individual supplier to the creamery is a member of his co-operative society. It is up to him and the co-operative of which he is a member to regulate their own affairs. It is not for me to decide how any co-operative should deal with the individual members.
I raise this because it has been raised with me.
(Interruptions.)
If it is a Dairy Disposal Company creamery, it is a separate matter, I agree. As I said, we have set up a little group to examine this whole question of the delivery and the testing of milk at creameries, which will include the Dairy Disposal Company in its examination, just as it will include the co-operative societies, but if there is any complaint about a Dairy Disposal Company creamery not affording suppliers facilities to see their milk being weighed on delivery, then I will certainly look into it.