asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give an estimate of the aggregate production during the present cereal year resulting from the introduction of the new compound flour of (a) wheat offals, (b) barley offals; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to ensure that such offals will be available for stock feeding only and that grain producers will get their fair share of such offals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Offals.
I understand that the wheat and barley for the production of flour are being milled together and that in the present cereal year about 50,000 tons of the mixed offals will be produced. Under the provisions of the Emergency Powers (Milling Offals) Order made by me on 7th December, 1943, about 25 per cent. of the offals produced are at present being made available to manufacturers of compound feeding stuffs for inclusion in compounds such as pig and poultry meals which are in very short supply. The balance of the production will be distributed by millers through the customary trade channels for sale to the public.
Does the Minister consider that it is wise to continue that policy, in view of the possibility of adding adulterants to these compounds? It is well known that adulterants have been added to them, and, in face of the acute shortage of feeding stuffs, does the Minister not consider that it would be wise to make that 50,000 tons available for agricultural purposes?
Well, there are two views in connection with that matter. Some farmers favour it, whereas others do not favour it, and therefore we have adopted this compromise of giving them 25 per cent. of the offals for compound feeding stuffs. Undoubtedly, in the case of a small feeder who can only buy four stone or eight stone at a time, it would be more convenient to have the feeding stuffs, whereas it is all right for the big farmer who can do his own mixing.
But does not the Minister admit that the producer also has a claim?
The producer gets 75 per cent, and also his share of the 25 per cent.