asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that there is a great scarcity of boots and shoes for men engaged in agricultural work in some districts, particularly in West Cork; that the bootmakers cannot get any kip or sole leather to make or to repair strong boots and some of them are idle for many months; that, as a result, men cannot work on the land during the winter months; that any working boots available are being sold at an exorbitant price; and whether he will intervene to secure a fair distribution of existing supplies of men's farm boots and of the material for making and repairing them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Heavy Farm Boots.
I am aware that there is, in general, a shortage of boots for agricultural workers. The shortage of boots of this and certain other types and the problem of the distribution of leather generally has been under examination by my Department for some time and it is proposed to introduce a scheme of control in the near future which will help to relieve the present difficult situation. I cannot, however, hold out any hope of a complete solution of the problem which is, in the main, due to shortage of suitable materials arising from the war situation.
The prices of home-produced footwear of all kinds, including agricultural boots, are controlled under Emergency Powers (Footwear) (Maximum Prices) Order, 1943, which came into operation on 3rd August last. If the Deputy is aware of cases where boots have been sold at exorbitant prices, I should be glad if he would bring such cases to the notice of my Department.
Will the Minister say whether there has been a fair distribution of boots and material for mending men's heavy boots for the last six months?
I am aware that there is a scarcity of leather.
In my own native town and in several other towns in that area I have seen bootmakers, who are second to none, standing idle in the streets while the shops are filled with boots belonging to farm workers which could not be mended because they could not get leather.
There is definitely a scarcity of leather.
Is the Minister aware that if a farm worker wants a pair of boots—and you are demanding increased food production from these men at present—he cannot get them unless he is prepared to pay up to £3 or £3 10s. per pair? Where does your control come in then?
If the Deputy is aware of any such case he is not doing his duty by keeping the information to himself.
I should like to remind the Minister that in my part of the country where cases of black marketing have been reported they have not been brought to the halls of justice for 12 months.
Will the Deputy name one case?
How can the Minister expect farm workers to carry on their work if they are unable to get boots?
The Deputy must not expect me to work miracles.
Might I remind the Minister that there are people on his benches who are defending black marketeers?
Could the Minister not take steps to divert leather which is now being used for the manufacture of other boots to the manufacture of farm workers' boots?
I mentioned in reply to the question that I proposed to take under control the whole activities of the boot manufacturing industry in order to ensure that production will be regulated in accordance with needs, but no form of control will make good the scarcity in heavy leather. The main difficulty arises owing to the scarcity of supplies of heavy leather.
I understand that there is a big number of high-class boots being manufactured. The people for whom these are intended are not working on the land. That leather would make excellent material for making boots for agricultural workers.
That is not correct. There is a better supply of light leather than of heavy leather. We can do something to divert into the heavy boot trade some proportion of the leather now going into light boots, but we cannot in present circumstances, having regard to the difficulty of importing hides and tanning materials, make good entirely the deficiency in heavy boots.
Is the Minister taking steps to control the price of these boots?
The price is controlled. It has been controlled for several months past.