asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the curers are receiving an unduly large proportion of sows for slaughter; and whether in view of this evidence of decrease in the pig population he will take steps at once to terminate the maize meal mixture scheme and thereby reduce the price of maize meal, which is now retailing at 9/- per cwt.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maize Meal Mixture Scheme.
There is no evidence of the disposal for slaughter of sows in abnormal numbers or of a decrease in pig stocks. As I have already indicated in public statements, I have under consideration the question of suspending the maize mixing scheme at a later date during this year.
Has the Minister made any inquiries from the bacon curers in order to get the facts in this matter, because my information from the curers is that quite an unusual number of sows are being sent in for slaughter. As to the decrease in sows, if the Minister were attending the fairs he would see that there are buyers at them from all over the country looking for pigs and cannot get them, and the price of bacon is going up.
The figures available from the Statistics Branch of the Department of Industry and Commerce do not bear out the Deputy's contention.
Has the Statistics Branch any statistics as to the number of sows going into the factories from week to week?
They have. They have figures for all sorts of things.
Have they figures as to the sex of every pig going into the factories?
We know everything.
The Minister does to the country's misfortune.
Is the Minister aware that, according to the last official figures, the number of sows for breeding has fallen by 18,000?
As a matter of fact, the number has increased. There was an increase as between 1937 and 1938.
Is the Minister aware that what happened was that the figure went up by 2,000 after falling by 14,000 in three years?