I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £439,520 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1939, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig an Aire Talmhaidheachta agus seirbhísí áirithe atá fé riaradh na hOifige sin, maraon le hIldeontaisí-i-gCabhair.
That a sum not exceeding £439,520 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1939, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture and of certain services administered by that Office, including sundry Grants-in-Aid.
The Estimate provides for a decrease of £40,012 in payments and an increase of £77,722 in Appropriations-in-Aid, compared with 1937-1938, making a net decrease in the Vote amounting to £117,734. I will first take the sub-heads under which there are increases. The first is salaries, wages and allowances. The personnel of the staff as is shown on the printed Estimates shows a reduction of 43 as compared with last year. The reduction is mainly due to the cessation of farm butter levy work. The increase in the money provision, £5,550, is mostly due to normal increments of salary and to the fact that the Estimate is based on an average cost-of-living figure of 75 for the whole financial year whereas the 1937-8 Estimates were based on a figure of 65 for nine months of the year and 70 for the other three months.
The next sub-head is F (3)—Veterinary College. A clerk-attendant and one additional laboratory attendant are provided for in connection with work under the Poultry Diseases Act, 1934. The normal increments of salary and a higher rate of cost-of-living bonus account for most of the balance of the increase under the head of salaries, wages, etc. The provision under General Expenses is £599 more than in 1937-1938. This is rendered necessary by the increases in the number of students attending the College and the number of animals under treatment. The number of students in attendance during the Spring term of the current session was 173.
Now we come to sub-head G (2)— Improvement of Live Stock. This shows an increase of £37,975. The provision of £35,000 is for the purchase of one high-class thoroughbred stallion of classic standard at a cost of say £20,000 and of three sires not quite up to classic standard at an estimated cost of £5,000 each. That is against the total Estimate last year of £10,005. I may mention that in the original Estimate of last year this £35,000 was also shown but it was altered when the Supplementary Estimate was brought in, as it was found impossible to spend any money under this head last year. The idea was that with this £35,000 in the Estimate we might be able to buy one thoroughbred stallion of classic standard and three sires at £5,000 each. It is very hard to say whether this money will be spent this year. Last year, as I say, we made provision for a similar amount of money to be spent but no suitable stallions came on the market.
There is a loss on resale of thoroughbred hunter stallions. The explanation of the apparent increase for high-class thoroughbred stallions also applies to the apparent increase of £2,005 in the provision for loss on thoroughbred hunter stallions compared with 1937-1938. The original provision for 1937-38 was £4,000 and similar provision is made this year. The original provision was reduced when the Supplementary Estimate was brought in, Four thoroughbred hunter stallions were purchased in 1936-37 at a cost of £1,688 and the loss on resale was £938. Ten thoroughbred hunter-stallions were purchased in 1937-38 at a cost of approximately £3,822 and the loss on the resale was £1,963. Having regard to the intensive foreign competition it is anticipated that the Department will have to pay high prices for any thoroughbred hunter stallions purchased during the current financial year. That is why the Estimate has been increased for the present year.
There is sub-head G (3) for the inspection, purchase and keep of yearling thoroughbred colts. The provision of £1,500 for this purpose is £500 more than was provided for in 1937-38. During the last year we bought four yearling colts for location during the current financial year. They cost £929 exclusive of the cost of keep, etc. Under the next sub-head provision is made for the purchase of stock rams for leasing or resale at reduced prices. This is a new scheme for which £500 is provided. The number of rams proposed to be purchased annually is six or eight, depending on the prices prevailing, which may vary within wide limits. It is intended to give preference to leasing rather than resale in order to insure more control over the location and general utilisation of the rams. The leasing fees proposed to be charged are:—£5 per annum for rams costing £50 or less; £7 10s. per annum for rams costing from £50 to £75, and £10 per annum for rams costing from £75 to £100. That is all I have to say so far as stock rams are concerned.
With regard to special agricultural schemes in congested districts, there is an increase of £1,548 in the Estimate compared with last year. Provision is made for an additional agricultural overseer. The cost of travelling for the last few years has been about £5,000 and that represents £1,650 over the previous Estimate. The Estimate of £5,000 is based on actual expenditure on travelling in the last few years. The provision of £9,500 for the purchase of bulls for sale at reduced prices represents an increase of £1,000. The £9,500 is for the purchase of 210 bulls. There is an additional £300 provided for the purchase of rams for sale at reduced prices. This is a different scheme from the previous scheme that I mentioned in regard to rams; it is for congested districts only. The Estimate of £1,650 is for the purchase of 150 rams at an average of £11 each. The provision of £430 is made for the supply of 123 fully-stocked beehives at half cost. Beehives were supplied at reduced prices in 1936-37 and 1937-38, but this is the first year that the item has been shown under a separate head in the Estimates.
The next item is sub-head K (4), which provides for a grant in respect of the development of the manufacture of milk powder. This is to provide a subsidy to a creamery society in respect of milk powder manufactured by them. The subsidy will be paid to the Dungarvan Co-operative Creameries, Limited, on their sale in this country of milk-foods manufactured by Messrs. Cow and Gate Limited, Surrey, from milk powder supplied by the Dungarvan Co-operative Creameries, Limited. The subsidy is to be calculated as follows:—Milk foods packed in tins, 800 cwts. at 6d. per lb., making £2,240, and milk foods packed in cartons, 200 cwts. at 3d. per lb., making £280.
In explanation of this I should say that for some considerable time we have been considering the manufacture of baby foods in this country, knowing that we have at least the perfect milk and milk products to make these baby foods. But, realising that there is such a strong prejudice amongst mothers as to what they should give their babies, we thought it inadvisable to prohibit or even tariff the incoming baby foods. We thought it better to subsidise the baby foods made from native milk, so that they could be put on the market at a somewhat lower cost and in that way we tried to induce people here to buy these foods of their own free will, but not through any compulsion. I was afraid if anything happened to a baby the mother might blame me for the loss if she fed the baby on Dungarvan food.
With regard to the sub-head covering miscellaneous work, there is a net increase of £2,033 in the Estimate compared with 1937-38. There was a sum of £2,500 additional provided for advertising and publicity in connection with wheat propaganda and the drink more milk campaign. The milk campaign is a new item, for which £1,500 is provided.
Sub-head M (4) deals with loans and grants for agricultural purposes. The sum of £2,000 inserted in the Estimate for loans for the purchase of stallions is £500 more than was provided in the last Estimate. It is anticipated that this will enable 27 loans to be granted. An additional £700 is provided for loans for the purchase of bulls in view of the advance in cattle prices and it is anticipated that there will be no falling off this year in the demand for these loans. Provision was made in the last Estimate for 1,000 loans for the purchase of hand-spraying machines, but this was not sufficient to meet the demand. The provision has therefore been increased from £1,750 to £3,500. This will enable 2,000 loans to be made.
There is a sum of £2,000 provided in respect of a new scheme of loans for the purchase of poultry equipment, including incubators and hoovers. These loans will be repayable in three equal annual instalments, together with interest at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. The scheme of loans for the improvement of flax scutch mills was initiated in 1937-38. There is an undoubted need for a substantial improvement of scutching facilities and the scheme may be availed of to a greater extent this year. A provision of £1,000 has been made for this scheme, showing an increase of £500. A sum of £1,000 is provided for loans and grants for the erection, equipment and repair of corn mills. This indicates an increase of £500.
With regard to sub-head M (5), concerning the improvement of the creamery industry, there is an increase of £6,900 in the Estimate. The principal item is £30,000 for the erection of creamery premises and the operation of travelling cream separators in the Cahirciveen, Kenmare and Castletownbere areas. I mentioned that scheme here before. For some years back the people of these districts, which everybody knows are very poor —that is, the West and South Kerry districts and the peninsula of Castletownbere—have been making various suggestions with regard to schemes that might help them, and amongst them was one that they should have a creamery to take their milk. On surveying the district it was found that no stationary or fixed creamery could be made an economic unit, because there would not be a sufficient supply of milk in any particular district. We have now embarked on this scheme of having a collecting centre in Castletownbere, in Cahirciveen and a central creamery in Kenmare. There will be three travelling creameries working from the Kenmare centre, three from the Cahirciveen centre and three from the centre in Castletownbere. It is hoped it may be made an economic proposition under these conditions. I should say it is largely experimental and, even though the scheme is going to cost somewhere between £30,000 and £40,000, it was considered necessary in the interests of the people in these areas to ask the Dáil for that large sum of money without being sure of success. The scheme is now in operation for two or three weeks and the prospects are not too bad.
With regard to sub-head O (7), dealing with the Agricultural Produce (Fresh Meat) Acts, the Estimate is £4,782 more than in 1937-38. The increase is mostly in respect of the remuneration of part-time veterinary examiners. Provision is made for two additional examiners for duties under the Fresh Meat Acts at Cappamore and Cootehill, and 12 additional officers who may be required for duties under the Pigs and Bacon Acts, consequent on the registration of new premises under the latter Acts.
Sub-head O (11) covers the Slaughter of Cattle and Sheep Acts. There is an increase of £28,898 in the Estimate. There is an increase also of £82,400 in the provision for the purchase of cattle for export. On the other hand, there are reductions of £36,000 under the heading of compensation for animals slaughtered, and £14,995 under the heading of compensation to manufacturers of cattle products. Then there are reductions amounting to £2,507 under sundry heads. The provision of £450,000 for the purchase of cattle for export to Germany and Belgium is based on the assumption that the number exported will be much the same as in previous years, but that higher prices will have to be paid for them. The numbers exported in the last few years were:—1935-36, 21,486; 1936-37, 21,326; 1937-38, 18,092. I should say that the reduction in the number last year was due to the shipping strike at Dublin in December last, which was responsible for the reduction in exports by about 2,000. The Roscrea factory has not been supplied with any old and uneconomic cattle since 25th March last.
With regard to sub-head O (15) concerning the Agricultural Wages Act, there is an increase of £5,029 in the Estimate. As the Act had not come into operation, and some time would elapse before the board could be appointed and a full staff recruited, it was not necessary to provide for a normal year's expenditure in 1937-38. The provision made in that year was also exclusive of the cost of the clerical staff. The high cost of advertising and publicity is due to the fact that the board's orders are published in many provincial papers. If attendance at a meeting involves a loss of wages, compensation for the actual wages lost is paid to the workers' representatives, in addition to subsistence allowance.
Now I come to the decreases on the Vote. The first important decrease comes under sub-head O (9), which refers to the Agricultural Products (Regulation of Exports) Acts. The total amount in that connection is £35,250. There was a sub-head in 1937-38 that is not repeated in this year's Estimate. It concerns expenses in connection with the provision of butter for winter requirements, and the amount is £111,000. There are also decreases in sundry sub-heads amounting to £3,002.
The total decreases there would be £149,252. The decrease of £35,200, under sub-head O (9), is arrived at as follows: For exports of butter, there is a decrease of £76,250, and for exports of eggs, an increase of £41,000—that is, in the years 1937-38 and 1938-39—leaving a net decrease of £35,250. Appropriations-in-Aid show an estimated increase of £77,722 compared with 1937-38. The most important increase is: Receipts in connection with the Slaughter of Cattle and Sheep Acts— £89,780, of which £87,000 is in respect of exports of cattle. The most important decrease is: Agricultural Products (Regulation of Export) Acts—Sales of butter and eggs, a reduction of £14,000. I think it will be seen that where the estimate for the purchase of cattle shows an increase, the Appropriations-in-Aid also show an increase; and where there is a net decrease in connection with the butter and eggs figures, there is a decrease in the Appropriations-in-Aid.
There are some smaller items to which I wish to draw attention. First of all, with regard to the seed propagation division, there is an increase of £470. The additional funds are required mostly for the scheme for the production of pedigree seed wheat. With regard to the grants to county committees of agriculture, the normal grant provided is £88,886, compared with £84,855 in 1937-38, an increase of £4,031. It is estimated that the produce of the 2d. minimum rate raised by the county councils in 1938-39 will amount to £73,083, and that the produce of the extra rate raised will be £15,803, a total of £88,886. There is a reduction of £3,000 in the provision for Special Temporary Grant compared with 1937-38. The Special Temporary Grant is not considered a desirable arrangement in the financial system of the committees of agriculture, and the institution of a more satisfactory system is under consideration. Meanwhile, the Special Temporary Grant for 1938-39 has been fixed at £5,000, which is the lowest possible figure considered necessary to enable the more needy committees to carry on essential services. I should say that the Special Grant was allocated almost entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Agriculture. Admittedly, it was not a satisfactory system, and we are trying to evolve a more satisfactory system of financing the county committees.
Under I (c)—Demonstration Plots— there is an increase of £500. The increase is to provide for the purchase of onion seed and the purchase of glass frames for the growing of onion seedlings. Under sub-head K (1) (2)— Miscellaneous Grants-in-Aid—there is an increase in the annual grant of £200. Provision is made for an increase of this amount in the annual grant of £100 to the Connemara Pony Society, amongst other things. Under sub-head K (1) (4) there is an increase in the expenses of the Department's education exhibit. The character of the Royal Dublin Society's Spring Show has so materially altered in the last few years, owing to the expansion of the industrial side, that the necessity for a more attractive presentation of the Department's exhibit has become apparent, and £300 additional is provided for this purpose. As a matter of fact, we are trying to get a larger space for our exhibit at the Spring Show because we feel that we could show many more attractive items there if the space were available.
The next item is under sub-head K (2)-Contribution to Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. There is an increase of £540. The grant to this society consists of (a) a fixed grant of £5,700; (b) a contribution of £1 for every £1 by which the society's receipts from affiliation fees and special subscriptions exceed £3,000; and (c) a contribution of 10/- for every £1 received by the society by way of subscriptions from private sources. The total grant is subject to an overriding maximum of £7,260 per annum. The fixed grant was at the rate of £6,000 for a number of years, but in 1935-36 it was reduced to £5,500, and in 1937-38 was increased to £5,700. The question of a further increase—the amount is not yet decided—is under consideration, and this explains the necessity for making additional provision.
