asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the price to the farmer of Indian meal in Northern Ireland is 5/- per cwt., and that the price of comparable feeding stuffs under the mixed grains scheme is at least 8/- per cwt. in North Cork and other areas, and if in view of the necessity of farmers in those areas obtaining feeding stuffs at the cheapest price possible to enable them to carry on, he will come to an immediate decision to permit of maize meal, etc., being available again for farmers and labourers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Maize Meal in Cork.
The returns published by the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland show that the average retail price of maize meal in that area at 1st May, 1934, was 5/7 per cwt. The average price at which maize meal admixture was sold at the same date at the principal centres in Saorstát Eireann was, approximately, 7/6 per cwt. The latter price is not considered excessive, having regard to the price of homegrown cereals in maize meal mixture.
It is not my intention to permit the milling of pure maize for feeding to live stock.
Is the Minister not aware that in the City of Cork whole maize can be purchased at £4 16s. Od. a ton? Is he not also aware that this matter is causing great dissatisfaction even amongest his own followers in my constituency? Has he not read the report appearing in the Irish Independent of a resolution passed at a meeting of Cumann Cosanta na Gaeltachta?
"Do h-aontuigheadh ar ‘Bounty' do lorg as gach mála mine úsáidtear agus cuireadh a thabhairt do Theachtaí Dála an Cheanntair go dtí mór-chruinniú, i Reidh na nDoirí. Dia Domhnaigh, an 3adh lá de Mheitheamh, ar a 4 a chlog."
Is he aware that at this meeting a demand was made that the Minister should give a bounty on every sack of meal consumed in the Gaeltacht area? I may say that all the people at this meeting of Cumann Cosanta na Gaeltachta were his own supporters.
Dr. Ryan
All the people down there are, of course.
All of these people are anyway.