asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) the prices paid for hides by (a) British tanners, and (b) Irish tanners, and (2) the prices charged for leather by (a) British tanners, and (b) Irish tanners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices for Hides.
It is assumed that the first part of the Deputy's question refers to native hides. The current price payable by Irish tanners for firstclass native hides is 8d. per lb. I have no information about the prices paid by British tanners for native hides, the prices of which were decontrolled as from the 1st July, 1950.
Regarding the second part of the Deputy's question, it is not practicable, owing to the varieties of leather in use, to give comparable prices for leather produced in each country.
As to the prices charged for leather by Irish tanners, I would refer the Deputy to the tabular statement circulated in the Official Report in reply to a question asked by him on the 1st March, 1950, which showed the prices of the main products of each tannery in September, 1949. Since then the prices of some of these products have increased, the increases being in the region of 3d. per lb. for bends and 6d. per square foot for box sides.
Is the Minister not aware that the price of Irish hides is 8d. per lb. and the price paid by the British tanners is 19½d. per lb. and that the price charged for leather by Irish tanners is as high as the price charged by British tanners, even though the latter pay practically three times the price for the hides?
The Deputy, of course, if he has investigated this matter and made inquiries, must be aware that the figures were arrived at in two completely different circumstances. The whole basis of the price of hides and the price of leather in Great Britain is completely different from the basis on which the prices are arrived at here. The Deputy is further aware that there was a fairly substantial increase in the price paid for native hides in this country in the last few months and that the increase in the price of leather is very largely, if not entirely, due to the increased price paid for hides.
The price paid for hides here is 8d. per lb. and it is roughly 20d. per lb. across the water.
That is not so.
How the Minister can say that the increase in the price in the leather is due to the increase in the price of hides is most amazing. The price of leather here is just as high as in Great Britain where they are paying 20d. per lb. for hides.
The Deputy ought to tell the whole story, if he is conversant with it. He ought to give information regarding the way in which prices are subsidised on the British side, an element which does not enter into the position here.