asked the Taoiseach whether, in view of the continued need for increased food production at home and the desirability of helping to relieve famine conditions in Europe, he will arrange to convene a conference representative of all Parties to consider the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Food Situation.
I am not clear as to the precise purpose the Deputy has in mind in suggesting that a conference representative of all Parties should be convened to consider the situation to which he refers. The position at home and on the Continent is now fairly well known. The continued need for the maximum food production and the national duty of doing all in our power to relieve distress abroad are also, I think, fully appreciated. In a recent broadcast statement I dealt with these matters and referred to the fact that compulsory tillage and compulsory wheat growing were being maintained this year at last year's level. I also said that we should not allow ourselves to be competitors with the starving people of Europe for the wheat which they so badly need and should make the utmost use of the supplies we have in hand and produce from our own soil all we require for our own use. As a first step in this direction the rate of flour extraction was raised from 80 to 85 per cent.
It is clear that the possibility of meeting our own needs and contributing to the relief of Europe depends on the farmers and I asked them to make this year the greatest effort they had yet made and to increase still further the acreage under wheat. It is obvious that the more food we produce the safer will be our own position and the more we shall have for those who are in need. I urged the farmers to seize every opportunity in February to sow as much winter wheat as they could and to sow as much spring wheat as possible in the months of March and April. The time for sowing winter wheat is now over and it remains to sow as much spring wheat as possible this month and next. Our aim should be to have at least 700,000 acres under wheat this year. We ought, of course, to increase our production not only of wheat but also of potatoes, barley, oats and roots to make up for the deficiency which would be caused by the reduced output of bran and pollard in consequence of the higher rate of flour extraction and the absence of feeding stuffs.
Dealing specifically with the question of relief for Europe, I stated that from the Dáil vote of £3,000,000 last year it was possible to send to the Continent draught horses, cattle, bacon, butter, cheese, dried and condensed milk, sugar, baby foods, clothing and clothing materials and that in the coming year it was proposed to do at least as much.
What I have said indicates broadly the situation as it is viewed by the Government. We would, of course, welcome an expression of the views of the various Parties in the Dáil and I am prepared to meet the leaders of Parties to discuss the situation with them if this is desired.