asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that there is great dissatisfaction amongst the dairy farmers in the Castleisland-Killorglin area, Co. Kerry, regarding prices paid for milk or butter fat by the Dairy Disposals Board; that suppliers in this district during April, 1930, were charged 4d. per lb. more for butter than they received for butter fat, and that the price paid by the milk suppliers for butter during this month was 38/- per cwt. more than the price received for butter exported to England; if he can state why the Board in this district changed from the butter fat system of payment to the payment per gallon; whether he is prepared to institute an enquiry into the working of the Board in this area, and whether, as the dairy farmers in the Castleisland-Killorglin area are anxious to take over the creameries there which are now operated by the Dairy Disposals Board, he is prepared to facilitate such transfers, and, if not, if he will state the reasons why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Operations of Dairy Disposals Board in Kerry.
I am not aware that there is dissatisfaction amongst the dairy farmers in the Castleisland-Killorglin area, County Kerry, regarding prices paid for milk or butter fat by the Dicksgrove group of creameries controlled by the Dairy Disposals Company. The price charged for butter to suppliers was fixed for April on the first of that month at 1s. 5d. per pound, which price was somewhat less than the average price at which butter was being sold elsewhere in Ireland on that date by that group of creameries. The change in the method of payment from butter fat percentage to the gallonage basis was made because it was believed that the majority of the suppliers desired the change. If there is any widespread demand, arrangements can be made to revert to the basis of butter fat.
I am not prepared to institute an enquiry into the working of the creameries referred to, but I am informed that the Dairy Disposals Company are prepared to make arrangements to transfer the creameries concerned to the suppliers as soon as the suppliers have made the necessary arrangements to finance the purchase by the issue of shares.