asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that one firm has been permitted to acquire either all or a large proportion of the available beet pulp at a price of £6 11s. per ton, that this firm is now disposing of same as an admixture with cereals which is being sold by them at the wholesale price of £20 per ton, and if he will take steps to make supplies of beet pulp available at the advertised price of £6 11s. per ton and investigate the price charged for beet pulp-cereal admixtures and control same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Pulp.
Under the terms of the contracts entered into by the Irish Sugar Company with beet growers for the 1940-41 season, each grower was entitled to be supplied with 1¾ cwts. of dried beet pulp for each ton of beet grown and delivered by the grower. The price charged by the company for the beet pulp was fixed at £5 5s. per ton (bags extra returnable) free on rail at the company's factory. In accordance with this arrangement the great bulk of the beet pulp was purchased from the company by the beet growers either directly or through the Beet Growers' Association. After the growers and other farmers and feeders had been given an opportunity to purchase at the stipulated price, a small surplus remained, which has been disposed of to several manufacturers of feeding stuffs.
The question of the desirability of controlling the manufacture and sale of compound feeding stuffs is at present under investigation in my Department.
The Minister stated that a small surplus was made available to the manufacturers. Could the Minister state what was the size of the surplus and how many manufacturers got it?
I could not say.
I ask the Minister to find out whether it is a fact that one firm got the entire surplus. If the Minister looks at the figures he will find that there is no possible justification for selling the stuff at £20 a ton.
How could the Minister justify a maize meal mixture, consisting largely of beet pulp purchased at £6 10s. per ton, being sold at £19 per ton retail?
If that is being done, it could not be justified.
I can state with certainty that it is being done in the West of Ireland.
That is being investigated.