asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that a considerable portion of the December ration of paraffin oil was not made available to householders in North Mayo; and if he will now make an Order to ensure that any undelivered portion of the December paraffin ration will be made available to consumers at the December price.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Mayo Paraffin Oil Ration.
I am aware that due to the non-arrival of expected supplies and transport difficulties, some portion of the December ration of kerosene was not available during that month to householders throughout the country generally and this presumably applied to certain areas in North Mayo.
From information at my disposal I understand that supplies of kerosene sufficient for the full December ration were made available in all districts at the earliest possible moment and I am not satisfied that any appreciable quantity of the December ration for the North Mayo area remained in the hands of traders until a date after 1st January, 1943, or 21st January, 1943, the dates upon which prices were increased.
It is not practicable, in fixing prices, to differentiate as between the general body of traders and isolated cases of traders who might be carrying stocks at the time of a price rise nor, in my opinion, is such differentiation necessary, particularly in the cases of commodities in short supply, such as paraffin oil.