asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the committees of management of Monaghan and Clones Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Societies are much perturbed by his recent statement to the effect that milk suppliers to creameries should accept a minimum price of 1/- per gallon for their milk, and that nothing on the production side warrants such a reduction but rather the contrary, in view of (a) the increased cost of feeding stuff, (b) the increase in agricultural wages, and (c) the increase in county rates, and whether he will give an assurance that, rather than risk a reduction in the live stock population of all kinds, action of the kind contemplated by him will not be taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Milk.
I have not yet received from either of the societies mentioned by the Deputy any reply to the letter which I have addressed to them on the subject of milk prices, but I see no reason why they should be perturbed by my recent statement at Dungarvan on the subject. In the course of that statement I outlined what appears to me to be the immediate future of the dairy industry, and I urged dairy farmers to take the long-term view by consenting to a reduction in price now with a compensatory guarantee of stability for a period of five years. The alternative is to maintain the existing price in the certain knowledge that sooner or later the operation of economic forces will inevitably bring that price down—to what level it is impossible to forecast—and also in the knowledge that continued expansion of butter production at the existing price of milk will, unless checked, place such a burden upon the Exchequer as will become impossible to meet. The responsibility for making a final decision in this matter rests with the industry itself, and if my proposals are not acceptable to the industry, no change in price for the year 1950-51 will be made.
I would ask the Deputy to consider carefully whether my proposal, or the creation of a surplus of butter or other milk products which cannot be disposed of owing to their high cost of production, is the more likely to bring about a reduction in the numbers of our live stock.
Would I be correct in assuming that the Minister is more concerned with providing himself with political alibis in the future rather than with a long-term dairy policy?
That is just impudence, Deputy.
Since when did the committees of co-operative societies all over the country become responsible for the planning of a long-term policy in regard to the dairying industry?
A very desirable reform has been introduced in which it is not considered undignified on the part of an Irish Government to consult the Irish people. That is a policy which I propose, with the approval of the Government to which I belong, to pursue in respect of every decision taken in regard to the agricultural industry.
Would the Minister not consider asking the industry if they wanted an increase rather than if they were prepared to accept a reduction in price? Why did he not do that?
Because I do not believe in making fatuous promises which I cannot keep.
And to shirk your responsibility.