I will come back to that. For the purpose of keeping the interest of farmers and others centred on our present needs, we propose to continue this season as last season, a series of advertisements in the public Press and also to publicise our requirements by means of radio addresses, fihn exhibitions, and other means. The cost of this advertising and publicity is provided for under sub-head M (1).
With the increase in the area under tillage, questions affecting the supply of implements and machines; fertilisers, seeds, fuel oil, and so on, have naturally been engaging the attention of my Department. Circumstances have made it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary supplies of farm machinery from abroad. We were fortunate in arranging for the import of a limited quantity of power machinery during the last 12 months. We did succeed in getting in 100 tractors, 100 reapers and binders, and, I think. 22 threshing sets. I cannot say at this moment what are the prospects of getting similar machinery in for the coming year. I can only say that I hope we may be able to import at least as much during the year. The supply of horse-drawn machines and implements, as well as spare parts, has been on the whole satisfactorily maintained.
The shortage of fertilisers has been acutely felt. Prior to the emergency, we used annually in this country about 250,000 tons of all classes of fertilisers. With the shipping difficulties from early in the war and the huge increase in freights, coupled with the difficulty of getting raw phosphates from the old source of supply and the impossibility of getting potash from any source, it was impossible to carry on the manufacture and sale of fertilisers on the ordinary commercial basis, and hence a very large amount had to be provided for subsidy so that at least some fertilisers could be supplied for agriculture. Between imported phosphates and Clare phosphates, last year we were able to distribute about 30,000 tons of superphosphate for general farm use. That was distributed on the basis of the amount purchased by each farmer two years previously. We were able last year, in addition to that, to reserve a certain quantity for sugar-beet growers who got four cwts. of compound manure for every acre grown; also for those who were producing certified seed potatoes and for those who were growing root and vegetable seeds. A certain quantity was also provided for the unemployed allotment holders. After these had been all supplied, we were able to allocate a small quantity for the ordinary potato crop in the congested districts in the West. The total quantity of all classes supplied under all these heads was 52,000 tons. In the coming season the quantity will, of course, depend on the amount of raw phosphates that we can import and there is a provision in the Estimate again this year of £634,000 as a subsidy to enable whatever supplies will be available to be sold at an economic price to the farmer—about the same price as last year. I am doubtful, however, if the supply position will be as good as last year. As regards binder twine, arrangements were made with the British Ministry of Supply for the importation of 2,000 tons of binder twine, half in the form of manufactured twine and the other half in the form of sisal to manufacture twine at home. This twine was distributed by the Department of Industry and Commerce to traders on the basis of the amount passing through the hands of these traders during the two years 1940-1941.
Another matter of serious concern to farmers is the lack of horseshoes, shoeing iron, and nails. A small distribution of mild steel which is used for the purpose has been made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to farriers, but unfortunately it cannot be regarded as sufficient in any sense, and on that account farriers will be still dependent on scrap-iron for their purposes, and will be dependent on the imported supply of horse-shoe nails which normally came from Sweden. The difficulties of importation from that country will be obvious to everybody. A supply of nails and shoes was obtained from Great Britain during last year, and that helped us to get over the very acute position in which we found ourselves at the time.
The scarcity of fuel oil supplies gives rise to continuing anxiety. So far, we have been able to weather the storm, but we are dependent upon the safe arrival of tankers and so on. Every Deputy knows the perils to which these tankers are subject. The arrangement made by the Department of Supplies for the distribution of fuel oil to tractor owners and agricultural interests generally, I think everybody will admit, worked very smoothly on the whole. Undoubtedly supplies were short, but such supplies as we had were distributed as equitably as could be expected.
During the 1942-43 threshing season, it was arranged that the maximum amount of coal allowable might be increased in certain cases. A maximum quantity of ten tons per threshing machine had been fixed by the Department of Supplies. This was to be utilised only for moving the engine from haggard to haggard, and it was never intended that supplies should be issued for the actual threshing operations. As the season extended very much longer than previously had been the case, additional supplies were given late in the year.
Another question, which has been raised to-day already, is that of seeds. With the continuance of the emergency conditions, it has been found very much more difficult year after year to obtain-root and vegetable seeds from abroad, and a number of nurserymen in this country undertook the production of these seeds under ordinary commercial conditions. The only fear that these men had was that, if they went to the extent of making contracts with growers, contracting to pay a certain price for the seeds grown, for some reason or other imported seeds might be allowed in to compete against them. On that account, the undertaking was given to these men that if seeds were to be imported, they would handle the imported seeds in proportion to the amount of seed which they succeeded in getting grown here at home.
We were fortunate in many respects about seed wheat, in that we had a considerable acreage here before the war commenced. We had 255,000 acres in 1939. From that time, we were largely thrown on our own resources, and we were able to supply seed for subsequent years, when the acreage went on increasing up to 575,000 in 1942. Steps were taken by the Department from the beginning of the emergency to ensure that there would be reasonable supplies of seed wheat of good quality, and especially of spring varieties, to meet our expanding needs. We formulated a scheme under which the assemblers were guaranteed against loss in the assembly bf sufficient stocks. Assemblers of spring varieties must clean that wheat after taking it in; they must dry it in many cases, and they must store it for the winter. The price which is fixed for seed wheat is a paying price, of course, but if they did not succeed in selling the greater part of the wheat that is kept over, they would meet with very serious loss. I was afraid, on that account, that the assemblers would not store sufficient wheat to meet our requirements. An agreement was then made with the seedsmen who undertook to work this scheme, that in respect of whatever seed they might have left over in the spring after the growers had got their requirements, the Department would give them the difference between the value of the wheat at that particular time and the price that they would get from the miller for the wheat left over.
There was, however, one limit to that: they could not claim this subsidy on more than 25 per cent. of the wheat which they undertook to store. This scheme proved of special value and provided stocks of good spring seed every year. As a matter of fact, every year there was a certain amount left over; so that it cannot be contended seriously that there was a shortage of good seed available in any year since the emergency commenced. We propose to maintain this scheme in operation for the coming year.
I have already mentioned here to-day that, with a view to improving the strain, we have commenced the pure line breeding of the types of Spring wheat that are becoming popular in the country—the three varieties being, Atle, Diamante and Red Marvel. These will be released from the agricultural colleges in small quantities for sowing and the first crop by the growers who get these small quantities will be willingly taken up by seed merchants for further distribution.
With the new provision in the Tillage Order in which first year grass will count as tillage, supplies of grass seed will become of more importance. So far, we have had enough grass seed to meet all requirements and I have no fear but that we shall have enough also for the coming spring. The expansion of tillage has led to a considerable increase in the testing of seeds for purity and germination and there has been a very large increase in the number of samples submitted by both growers and traders throughout the country with the result that the seed testing station here at headquarters was overtaxed. In agreement with the Minister for Education, the local Vocational schools undertook to test seeds for farmers in the vicinity. As far as reports have reached me, these facilities are being availed of very satisfactorily and farmers and others are very pleased with the results they are getting.
A valuable aid towards facilitating increased production and adding to the area of arable land in the country is the Farm Improvements Scheme, which is referred to in sub-head M. (9). The main cost, however, is borne under Special Emergency Schemes, Vote 67. This scheme was designed to assist farmers to carry out necessary improvements on their holdings and, incidentally, to prevent unemployment in the slack season in the country. The most important kind of improvements undertaken is land reclamation and drainage, and such works constitute the major part of the scheme. Other important works were added, however, including the construction of farm roadways, the improvement of farmyards and the construction of fences; and recently we have added further classes of works. These are the construction of water tanks, liquid manure tanks, farm silos and the laying down of concrete floors in out-offices. The scheme was started in 1940-41 and is now in its fourth year. This year the sum of £350,000 is provided in Estimate 67. It is expected that this will allow of over 40,000 cases being dealt with for improvements to holdings under the scheme. There is no doubt that the scheme is popular, if we judge from the number of applications; and that the benefits it confers have been generally recognised is borne out by the continuing applications that we are receiving. Up to the 31st March last, the area of land reclaimed under this scheme was approximately 48,000 acres. A considerably greater acreage was improved as a result of drainage works undertaken under the scheme. Various estimates might be made of the capital improvement of land as a result of the scheme.
An important contribution to the food supply, particularly in cities and towns, is that made by the cultivation of allotments. Generally, the local authorities acquire the land for allotment and it is then parcelled out to allottees, both employed and unemployed. In the case of the unemployed, the rent is nominal, and free seeds, manures and implements are supplied. This is the part of the scheme which comes under my Department. The scheme was operated last year by 85 out of 87 local authorities. In addition, there were 45 associations which provided allotments in towns which do not possess municipal government. At sub-head O (6), Deputies will see that there is a substantial increase in the amount asked from the Dáil this year to pay for seeds and manures, spraying materials, and so on. Last year, there were over 20,000 allotments cultivated by unemployed. As a matter of fact, this was a decrease of 3,297 on the previous year. We have not yet got full information with regard to the number of allotments cultivated by employed persons but the number is higher than it was last year, and the total number of allotments cultivated both by employed and unemployed will be about 35,500 for the year.
I mentioned already, in connection with our increased tillage, the matter of the General Agricultural Consultative Council. In general, these councils have been particularly helpful in finding solutions for the many problems in agriculture. There are some half-dozen of these councils, dealing with various aspects of agriculture such as cattle breeding, horse breeding, poultry and eggs, butter production, and so on. After the emergency had started, we set up a General Agricultural Consultative Council, which consisted of representatives of the committees of agriculture and of various farming organisations in the country. I intend, as a matter of fact, reconstituting this council so as to make it almost entirely ex-officio, and in that way I hope, if possible, that it may become a permanent institution. The county committees of agriculture play a very important part in agricultural administration, and these committees employ, as everybody here knows, expert instructors who are always at the service of the farmers and are a very important influence in the promotion of sound agricultural practice and opinion in their several localities.
The next big question is dairy produce. Dairying remains, as it has been for many generations, the keystone of our agricultural industry. It is the mainstay of the cattle trade, and a very important factor in the bacon, poultry and egg industries. About 90,000 households are dependent, to a greater or lesser extent, on the production of creamery butter. When to these are added the large numbers engaged in the manufacture of farm butter, it will be seen how vital dairying in itself, apart from its influence on other branches of agricultural production, is to the welfare of the rural population. After the last war, the world price of dairy produce remained remunerative up to 1929. Around about that year the agricultural depression set in, and agricultural values crashed everywhere.
In most countries exceptional measures were found necessary to meet the situation. In this country the Dairy Produce (Price Stabilisation) Act was passed in 1932, the object being to keep the price of butter on the home market as close as possible to the cost of production; in other words not to allow the value of butter on the home market to fall to the very low levels obtaining on the outside markets Later, it was seen that this scheme was not by itself sufficient to sustain the dairy industry, and direct financial assistance by the Exchequer was called for.
The outbreak of the war in 1939 created a new set of problems for the industry and the Government. At the beginning of the emergency, and for some time after, we still had an exportable surplus of butter. As the war progressed imported fats used for cooking, confectionery-making, and the manufacture of margarine ceased to be available, and we were thrown back on our own production of fats The first result of this was that instead of having an exportable surplus of butter we reached the point when our production was barely sufficient to meet our own requirements; and now we have reached the stage where the amount of butter available must be rationed amongst the consumers.
Government policy in relation to the dairying industry since the start of the emergency has been to hold the balance as fairly as possible between the consumer and the dairy farmer, so that the consumer would obtain supplies at a reasonable price. As circumstances became more difficult, owing to rising costs of production and scarcity of animal feeding stuffs, it became necessary to increase the price of milk supplied to creameries. In 1939, at the commencement of the war, that value was 5.4d. per gallon—admittedly, an inadequate figure, but one which, having regard to the circumstances of the time, was the highest which could be made available. In April, 1942, the price was increased to 7d., and in September, 1942, to 9d. per gallon. These prices, however, did not succeed in arresting the decline in butter production, and substantially improved rates as from the 1st December next, have been guaranteed to the dairy farmer. For the winter months— December to March of 1943-44 and 1944-45—the creamery supplier is guaranteed 1/- a gallon, and for the period from the 1st April to the 30th November, 1944, he is guaranteed 10½d. per gallon. It is hoped that this arrangement will enable the dairy-farmer to plan for an increase in his herd and for the better maintenance of his cows. The guarantee, of course, will result in a substantial increase in the cost of producing butter. It is not intended that the increase should be passed on in its entirety to the consumer, and the Government will continue to make a substantial contribution from the Exchequer towards meeting it.
The production of creamery butter during the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1943, amounted to 611,000 cwts., being a drop of 47,000 cwts. on the output of 658,000 cwts. in each of the two preceding years. Concurrently with this decline of 7 per cent. in production, there was a greatly increased demand, as I have already mentioned, for butter, owing to the shortage or absence of other foodstuffs, such as imported fats, and so on, and also because butter was being used as a substitute for such foods as bacon and so on. Measures became necessary, therefore, to ensure that the available butter supplies would be as evenly distributed as possible throughout the country. The steps taken included the following: In June, 1942, the use of creamery butter for other than household purposes was prohibited; in September, 1942, rationing at the rate of ¾lb per head per week was introduced in Dublin City, Dublin County and Bray Urban District.
At the same time creameries were instructed to restrict sales generally to two-thirds of normal, and to deal only with their regular customers. On a further review of the supply position the ration in the Dublin area was reduced to ½ lb. per head per week in November, 1942. In January, 1943, creameries were directed to reduce their sales to one-half of normal. These restrictions remained in force until the end of April. During the month, of May, creameries were permitted to sell to the customers outside the Dublin ration area 90 per cent. of the quantity of butter sold to these customers in May, 1942. In June, consumer rationing was extended by the Department of Supplies to the whole country. My Department operated a scheme under which 164,000 cwts. of creamery butter were placed in cold store during the summer months of 1942 to meet winter requirements.
These measures relate almost entirely to creamery butter which can be controlled from the point of manufacture. The equitable distribution of non-creamery butter presents a problem which cannot be solved along the usual rationing lines. It is made or produced on thousands of farms, and a great deal of it is used on the farms or sold in the immediate neighbourhood. Very little of it finds its way on to the wholesale markets where it could be controlled, and the utmost that could be done, therefore, to bring farm butter into the rationing scheme was to prevent people from being registered for the supply of creamery butter as long as they were using farm butter.
The arrangements in respect of creamery butter for the present year have been designed to fit in with the requirements of the general rationing scheme. Creameries may store butter of their own manufacture for their winter trade, after making provision for current needs. The surplus is being purchased by the Butter Marketing Committee for current use and for storage for the winter.
To meet the rising cost of manufacture, which I have mentioned already, the retail price of butter has had to be increased from time to time, from 1/7 to 1/9 per lb. in April, 1942, and to 2/- per lb. in September, 1942. These increases were not sufficient to provide the guaranteed price for milk supplied to creameries, and the part of the increased cost not covered by the increase in the price of butter was borne out of State funds. This subsidy is mentioned in Vote No. 68. Deputies will have seen that the amount is increased from £500,000 in 1942 to £700,000 in 1943. Now this money not only bridges the gap between the price at which the creameries can afford to sell butter, and the price which the consumer is asked to pay, but it also pays the expenses of storing butter for the winter. In the year 1938 we stored 97,700 cwts. of butter for the winter; in 1942, 164,500 cwts., and this year we hope to store 182,000 cwts. The amount in store at the end of September was 173,000 cwts. It will be seen that the quantity stored has been enormously increased since 1938, and yet, even though we had plenty of butter without any rationing in 1938, we do not seem to have enough now, although we have doubled the amount in storage. The production of creamery butter for the first period of the year, from the 1st April to the 30th September, was 7,000 cwts. greater than the production for the corresponding period of last year. This is the first year we have had an increase for many years, and we perhaps can look upon it as a good augury for the future. The slight increase, however, may not be maintained, and the production for the full year is expected to be about the same, or somewhat less, than last year.
Exports of hen eggs during 1942 were 2,262,000 great hundreds, as against 2,584,000 great hundreds in 1941, and 3,017,000 great hundreds in 1940. There has been a downward trend there, and it has continued in 1943. The total stocks of hens and chickens were 16,448,000 in 1940, 14,399,000 in 1941, and 14,484,000 in 1942.
It will be observed that there was a very slight increase in the number of hens in 1942 as compared with 1941, and it is not to be assumed, therefore, that the drop in exports was entirely due to a fall in production. We have no precise information on the subject, but it would appear that shortages in other foodstuffs, principally bacon, have led to an increased use of eggs, not only in producers' households but by consumers generally. About 65 per cent. of the total egg production takes place in the spring and summer months.
In the autumn production is only 22 per cent., and in winter 13 per cent., of the yearly output. In the winter months there is usually a period, fortunately of only a few weeks, when production is barely adequate for home needs. Any pronounced fall in home production might leave us at the scarcest period of the year with insufficient supplies. This is a contingency which can be avoided only by increasing poultry stocks, and this is no easy matter in view of the scarcity and cost of feeding stuffs. As long as there is a substantial surplus for export, as there is a surplus during the greater part of the year, the price paid for our exports will regulate prices generally. The prices paid for eggs on the market to producers during the early part of the year averaged from 1/7 to 1/8 per dozen. Since the middle of July the price has been 2/7 to 2/8 per dozen. The export of dead poultry remained fairly constant in 1941 and 1942, something over 200,000 cwts. The amount realised has been slightly increased; it was under £2,000,000 in 1941 and slightly over £2,000,000 in 1942. The export of live poultry has practically ceased owing to restrictions placed on imports by the British authorities.
The export of rabbits declined by about 35 per cent. in 1942 as compared with 1941. I welcome this decline, because I think it shows that the heavy killings of rabbits in 1941 has brought about a decline in the number in the country, and this is in the interests of farmers generally whose crops would be injured by these rabbits. The amount received for rabbits exported was £2,218,000 in 1941 and £860,000 in 1942.
On the question of milk supplies, we have better returns as regards milk supplies in the City of Dublin than elsewhere because the figures must go through the Dublin District Milk Board. A slight decline was shown in the production of milk by farmers supplying this district in 1942 as compared with 1941. There was a shortage of milk in Dublin for about seven weeks during January and February of this year. When the scarcity became apparent steps were taken by my Department and the Dublin District Milk Board, in co-operation with the Department of Local Government and Public Health, to obtain extra supplies for the city. All creameries believed to have milk available were asked to send this milk along. The Milk Board purchased this milk from creameries who were not usually supplying it, and they redistributed it through the ordinary trade channels. The Milk Board in that case paid special attention to the wants of the Dublin Corporation for their school meals scheme, food allowance and similar schemes and to public institutions.
As far as the supply permitted, they tried to direct as much milk as the could into the retail shops in the poorer districts. It was not easy to estimate what the precise shortage was. It was probably in the region of 2,000 gallons a day. At that time the daily consumption of milk in the Dublin area was about 40,500 gallons. The board expects to be in a position to effect a more equitable distribution of milk during the coming winter if supplies are inadequate for any period as they were last year. To give an idea of the average consumption of milk, if we take Dublin district where, as I have already said, we have reliable figures, the average daily consumption in 1938 was 38,711 gallons, in 1942 40,500 gallons, and in 1943 up to the 31st August, it was 43,150 gallons. There has, therefore, been a substantial increase in the amount of milk consumed in Dublin in recent years.
There is one warning that I should like to issue here. It is possible that as the years go on the inspection will become better—I mean the inspection of the amount of milk used by the retailers. The inspection is becoming better and, therefore, the returns are more accurate. In that way the amount consumed may be to some extent more apparent than real, but it is only to some extent, because only a small quantity could be accounted for under the better inspection I have mentioned.
Now, to come to pigs and bacon, towards the end of the summer of 1941, when the decline in pig stocks became apparent, efforts were taken to conserve supplies for home consumption. These steps took the form of stopping all exports of bacon after the 30th September, 1941, followed by the prohibition of the export of live pigs and, later, by the prohibition of the export of pork. In September, 1941, also, the Pigs and Bacon Commission was empowered to prescribe production periods and quotas in relation to carcases of pigs dealt with at licensed curers' premises, so as to ensure an equitable distribution of pigs amongst the various bacon factories.
The Pigs and Bacon Commission was empowered in September, 1942, to prescribe sales periods and quotas for licensed curers, and in the same month production and sales quotas were applied to pork dealers who were at the same time restricted as to the prices which they might pay for pigs and carcases, these being the appointed prices fixed by the commission in the case of licensed curers. They were compelled to pay the appointed prices which had been fixed for curers. Later, price restrictions and production quotas were applied to manufacturers of pork by-products. Other measures taken to deal with the position in the pig and bacon industries empowered the commission to provide for an equitable distribution of available bacon and provided for the imposition of heavy penalties for the illegal curing of bacon.
Despite the measures taken, and although the appointed prices for class I factory-purchased pigs had increased from 73/- per cwt. in September, 1939, to 125/- per cwt. in September, 1943, pig stocks continued to decline, and it became impossible to secure observance of the fixed prices for pigs owing to competition for such supplies as were available. It was, therefore, decided, as from 1st October, 1943, to substitute minimum for fixed prices for pigs and to abolish production and sales quotas, leaving the bacon curers and pork dealers to adjust their prices between the minimum prices which they had to pay for pigs and the maximum prices which they were permitted by the Minister for Supplies to charge for bacon and pork.
The decline in pigs is due to the shortage of feeding stuffs. Every effort has been made, so far as the Government are concerned, to induce farmers to grow extra food for pig feeding in the form of extra potatoes, barley and oats, but the success in this direction was very limited. Now that fixed prices for pigs have been abolished, pig producers may be tempted to go in for more pig production, and it has been put to me as an objection to the withdrawal of all these controls that the pig feeders may be tempted to feed wheat to their pigs. This is, of course, prohibited by law, because our total production of wheat is required for human consumption and it would be a bad policy, indeed it would be impossible, to permit the diversion of wheat for pig feeding in existing conditions. It is also illegal to purchase barley for pig feeding. A grower of barley can feed barley to his own pigs, but it is not permitted to purchase barley for that purpose. The total number of pigs on the 1st June in each of the years 1939 to 1943 was:—1939, 930,907; 1940, 1,049,089; 1941, 763,692; 1942, 518,700, and 1943, 436,200.
The prices payable by the British Ministry of Food for fat cattle and sheep imported from this country in the period from 28th June, 1943, to the 2nd July, 1944, are the same as those that obtained in the corresponding period 1942-43. Representations have been made on many occasions, but without success, to have the prices for fat cattle increased and brought more into line with those paid for British home-bred cattle. Prices for dressed beef, veal, mutton and lamb are related to those payable for fat cattle and sheep by the British Ministry of Food. Owing to the unattractiveness of these prices, and the high prices being paid for meat for home consumption, the export of dressed meat is not an economic proposition. In existing conditions there appears to be little prospect of an early revival of this trade.
Following the outbreak of the present war, there was a considerable development in the export of canned meat to Great Britain. Up to the end of June, 1941, many varieties of canned meat preparations were exported from this country, but at that time certain prohibitions were instituted by the British authorities against the importation of certain varieties of this meat, and we are now practically confined to the meat which is canned under very strict inspection. During 1942 approximately 11,500 tons of canned "stewed steak" and 3,200 tons of canned "ready meals"—that contain meat and vegetables—were exported to the British Ministry of Food.
I think, as regards the remaining sub-heads, that a few words of explanation will suffice. As regards sub-head A, dealing with salaries, wages and allowances, the cost-of-living bonus increases granted since last year to the lower paid grades added approximately £6,100 to the Estimate. In sub-head B, dealing with travelling expenses, all rates of subsistence allowances have been increased by 1/6 a night since 1st January last. In sub-head E (2)—Veterinary Research Laboratory—the only new item in the Estimate is the provision inserted for the salary of the Director and Veterinary Consultant, who was formerly the Chief Veterinary Officer and Director of the Department. As regards sub-head E (3), covering subscriptions, etc., to international and other research organisations, I may mention that many of these organisations cannot be contacted at present.
Under sub-head E (4)—Miscellaneous Investigations—the sum of £175 is required fur experiments in grass ensilage and potato ensilage; trials in storage of onions and trials in production of rape seed, flax seed, etc. Sub-head F (1) deals with agricultural schools and farms. The Estimate for salaries, wages and allowances is £2,595 more than last year. The increase of wages granted to farm workers under the Agricultural Wages Board's Orders of April, 1942, and February, 1943, and the additional amount of farm labour required for increased tillage operations on the farms, account for most of the extra expense. Grants to private agricultural schools are covered in sub-head F (2). The number of capitation places at Copsewood and Warrenstown Agricultural Colleges has been increased from 52 to 92. The number of capitation places at Claremorris Rural Domestic Economy School has been increased from 17 to 36.
Sub-head F (3) refers to the Veterinary College. Two veterinary officers have been appointed for the examination of canned meat for export. Sub-head F (4) covers scholarships in agriculture, horticulture and dairy science that are granted annually by the Department. The scholarships are tenable for one year, renewable annually, so that the scholar may cover the four years' course leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science or Bachelor of Dairy Science. The scholarships in agriculture and horticulture are tenable at University College, Dublin, and the scholarships in dairy science at University College, Cork. There are usually 20 scholars undergoing instruction in each year. They receive free tuition, a maintenance allowance of £64 3s. 4d. per session, and rail fare from home to college at the beginning of the session and back again at the end of the session.
Sub-head F (8)—Training of Instructors in Horticulture. This course of training takes four years. It is intended to qualify young men for employment as instructors in horticulture under committees of agriculture or for analogous posts. Four men complete their training each year and are replaced as a result of competitive examination held annually by the Department in conjunction with University College, Dublin. Sub-head G (1)—Improvement of Milk Production. There are nearly 200 cow testing associations and the members own about 50,000 cows. The income of each association includes the following: (a) A fee of 2/- for each member in respect of each cow of his under test; (b) grant of 4/- from the Department in respect of each cow under test; (c) a grant of £26 10s. 0d. from the Department to supplement the salaries paid by the association to its supervisor, plus 1/- for each cow under test in excess of 250. Committees of agriculture make allocations of funds for the purchase of the requisite initial milk-testing and tattooing apparatus and materials for the use of cow testing associations. Sub-head G (4)—Improvement of Racing. The grant for 1943-44 is £2,600 less than the grant provided in the Estimate for 1942-43. That is because there are less fixtures. Sub-head H—Grants to County Committees of Agriculture. The normal grant of £105,000 is the equivalent of the agricultural rate raised on the rateable poor law valuation of all the counties in Eire exclusive of urban districts. It is £ for £. The special temporary grant is, for distribution amongst such committees as are in urgent need of financial assistance. A special temporary grant has been provided each year since 1932-33. The Estimate of the amount required this year, £4,000, is less than last year's Estimate of £5,500.
The special grant to provide lime for agricultural purposes has been provided each year for the purpose of subsidising the sale of lime to farmers at reduced rates. The scheme is administered by the county committees of agriculture, who invite quotations for the supply of lime required in the different districts. The farmers get the lime at a price below the approved quotation and the difference is paid as a subsidy to the kiln owners. Sub-head I (1)—Special Agricultural Schemes in Congested Districts. The increase in the Estimate over last year is due to the increases in cost-of-living bonus granted to the staff of agricultural overseers, assistant agricultural overseers, to the increased cost of bulls and rams, and to the provision made for the erection and repair of lime kilns. Sub-head M (4)—Loans and Grants for Agricultural Purposes. Under this sub-head the rate of interest chargeable on loans has been reduced from 5 per cent. to 4½ per cent. as from 1st June, 1943. Loans for the purchase of stallions. —The stallions are purchased by the Department and resold at reduced prices to selected applicants in districts where there is need for the services of good class sires. Under the scheme the purchaser pays in cash one-third of the approved sale price and he receives a loan in respect of the remaining two-thirds. The loan is repayable in five equal annual instalments. Loans for the purchase of premium bulls.—These loans are issued to persons selected by the county committees of agriculture to keep bulls for premium purposes. The bulls purchased must be passed beforehand by the Department's inspectors. Under the scheme the purchaser pays in cash one-third of the approved sale price and he receives a loan of the remaining two-thirds. The loan is repayable in two equal annual instalments. It is expected that 280 loans at an average of £50 each will be issued in 1943-44.
Loans for the purchase of hand-sprayers are repayable in two equal annual instalments. Loans for the purchase of other agricultural implements are limited to the purchase of implements costing less than £40. Loans for the purchase of implements costing from £40 to £100 are issued by the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited. Under the Department's scheme the purchaser pays one-fourth of the price of the implements in cash and he receives a loan in respect of the remaining three-fourths. The loan is repayable in three equal annual instalments. In view of the limited supply of implements available a reduction in the number of these loans is anticipated. Loans for the improvement of flax scutch mills provide for the issue of loans amounting to three-fourths of the cost of the necessary equipment and repairs. Under other headings there are loans for the purchase and erection of poultry houses, poultry equipment, corn mills and silos. Under this heading we do not anticipate to do much business and this is mainly a token amount.
Sub-head N (1), Diseases of Animals Acts: Under this sub-head provision is made for salaries, expenses and equipment of inspectors under the Acts and for compensation for animals slaughtered on account of certain scheduled diseases. Sub-head N (2): Under this sub-head provision is made for part recoupment to local authorities of compensation for animals slaughtered by their inspectors under the Bovine Tuberculosis Order, 1926, and for certain contributions to the General Cattle Diseases Fund for the benefit of local authorities. Sub-head N (3): Horse Breeding Act, 1934. Under this sub-head provision is made for the salary and travelling expenses of the veterinary inspector and fees and expenses of referees employed to adjudicate in cases of appeals against the Minister's refusal to licence stallions. Sub-head N (4), Livestock Breeding Act, 1925: Provision is made under this sub-head for the employment of temporary inspectors and referees in connection with inspection and licensing of bulls and boars. As regards Appropriations-in-Aid, I do not think any account is necessary. If any farther information is required on any sub-head, I shall be only too happy to try to supply it.
The Supplementary Estimate is for a sum of £24,500, to meet expenditure arising out of the arrangements made to overcome the shortage of potatoes in the Dublin area during the months of May and June, 1943. There was a scarcity of potatoes in Dublin, commencing about the end of May, and before the early crop came in, and prices were going fairly high. The Dublin and District Potato Committee, a body representative of Dublin wholesale potato merchants, was vested with practically sole powers of purchasing the 1942 crop potatoes, during the period 11th May to 15th June, 1943, for sale in the Dublin area. The committee was authorised to pay up to £12 a ton, ex-rail Dublin, for 1942 crop potatoes. The potatoes were sold by the committee at a fixed price of £9 10/- a ton to wholesalers, who in turn sold them at a controlled price to retailers. The maximum retail price in the Dublin area was fixed at 1/10 a stone. The subsidy represents the difference between the cost of the potatoes to the committee, which purchased them at prices up to £12 a ton, and the proceeds of sales of the potatoes by the committee at the fixed price of £9 10/- a ton.
The arrangement enabled the potatoes to be sold at a reasonable price and enabled the committee to collect potatoes from the country by paying a higher price than they had been offering up to that. The total amount payable to the committee will not exceed £3,000 including, approximately, £250, representing the audited expenses of the committee. The amount of potatoes handled by the committee under this head was 1,100 tons.
The second part of this Estimate deals with a subsidy on early potatoes of the 1943 crop supplied to Dublin. These potatoes came in in the ordinary way. They did not come through the committee to which I have already referred. They came direct to wholesalers and retailers. New potatoes were encouraged to come on the Dublin market by this subsidy scheme because old potatoes were impossible to procure. At the same time, it was unreasonable to expect Dublin consumers to pay what they would have had to pay if the new potatoes came in on the ordinary commercial basis.
