asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reasons for the very much reduced prices being paid for fleece wool this year as compared with last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wool Prices.
48.
The wool buying season has only recently commenced and no proper assessment can yet be made of price trends.
Is the Minister aware that wool is fetching at least 1s per lb. less than it was this time 12 months?
I am not so aware. As I said in my reply it is much too early yet to make any proper assessment of the wool market. I refer the Deputy to comment in some of the farming press, such as the Farmers' Journal of 13th June, which does not express any real anxiety about it because the market has not opened yet. Sheep farmers generally feel that there is no reason yet to be pessimistic about the price of wool.
Is the Minister aware that the market has been open for the past fortnight and that wool has been purchased for as little as 2s 3d and 2s 4d per lb. and even 2s 2d?
Is it not right to say that in the same issue of the Farmers' Journal there is a comment to the effect that while there is no reduction in the price of wool in England there is this significant reduction here?
It would be bad if it were suggested here or elsewhere that there is, in fact, as Deputy L'Estrange suggested, a drastic fall in the price of wool, because suggestions like that could create such a fall. Since it is quite early in the season yet, I do not believe there is any reason for pessimism.
Would the Minister do his duty and see that the farmers get the same price for wool this year as they got last year? Surely the Minister will agree that because of the rise in production costs they are entitled to much more?
Will the Minister look into the question of a ring?
I shall investigate any such aspect.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.