I had come to the point of the reference by Deputy O'Higgins to turf. It was quite clear to me from the manner in which the Deputy referred to turf production that he was of the opinion that turf production started only in the year 1940. Apparently he is not aware that the idea of developing turf production and of making our native fuel something of value to the nation, was put into effect in the year 1933. In the beginning, all the opposition to what was described as the crazy idea of ever using turf, came from these benches when they were occupied by Fine Gael. One has only to go down to the library and look up the verbatim reports of the Dáil, to see to what extent there was either help from these benches in these days or belief in the idea that turf could be used to any extent, if at all. Under the Fianna Fáil administration turf development was a national scheme. To-day we have a lot of talk, particularly from the Tánaiste, about getting back to the winning of turf, and abuse of the people who previously produced and delivered it. He says we are going to use a much better class of turf and that everybody is going to be very happy about it. What is the position so far as the city is concerned? It is now a responsibility of the local authorities and we, in the Dublin Corporation, are supposed to be able to supply the citizens of Dublin with turf by our own efforts.
We recently discussed this matter at a meeting of the Dublin Corporation and we were wondering where the turf area was situated to which we could send our workers to win our turf. Obviously the turf will have to be brought to Dublin and storage accommodation will have to be found for it. I do not know that the Dublin Corporation has, first of all, the facilities for storing turf. The Phoenix Park does not belong to the Dublin Corporation; it belongs to the Board of Works. In any case, is the responsibility and the cost for supplying turf to the citizens of Dublin now to be put on the rates? We all know that the last Administration spent a considerable amount of money in connection with turf development but to-day the local authorities will have to do it. The local authorities who have got turf resources in the shape of bogs will be able to do it, but nevertheless it will cast an additional charge on their rates. We are being pressed to state what is our policy on any given item or series of items and I want to say now that the provision of turf, particularly in these days when there is such a lack of security in regard to supplies from elsewhere, should be a national Government responsibility. It should not be put on the shoulders of local authorities with a consequent lack of responsibility and a consequent saving for the Exchequer.
Deputy O'Higgins made all kinds of ridiculous statements about the history of turf development since 1933 and he wound up his statement on that subject with the remark that at this particular juncture Fianna Fáil was booted out of office. As I said before, when the next election comes, which I hope will be pretty soon, and when as a result of the counting of the votes we shall resume office, we shall be more charitable and we shall not say, when referring to the present Administration, that they were booted out of office.
Deputy O'Higgins seems to think that the present Government has a policy with regard to the international situation and that the policy which we have is the wrong one. He says that Deputy de Valera has always held up the bogey of war as a kind of threat to the people so that they would not make any change in the administration. I do not think that Deputy de Valera is the only person in the world who believes that there might be war. Deputy de Valera has always advocated that, so far as we are concerned, it is our obligation to take the responsibility of being able to protect the area over which we have control to the utmost extent to which we can. It is expected of us that we shall have our manhood trained for the defence of this country to whatever extent it can be done. Surely Deputy O'Higgins must be aware that if we are, on the one hand, going to accept gifts in the shape of millions of dollars from the American nation and substantial loans under the Marshall Aid scheme, and if they are going to recognise our right to decide the question of our neutrality in any conflict, we must be prepared to defend ourselves? If we are just to hold our hands out for everything that they can give and expect them to take an interest in this country, we must show that we are prepared to take adequate steps to defend ourselves. It is all very well to refer to our soldiers in the way the Deputy did but I see nothing to be ashamed of in having our youth trained, disciplined and available to the extent they always were in crises of the past. I think the Deputy who is sitting on the Front Bench at the moment would be the first to admit that before we were able to put at the disposal of our young men all the resources which the Government of the country should possess, in fact with practically no resources our young men resisted the continued occupation of this country by a foreign Government and succeeded by their efforts in getting rid of the oppressor. Are we to say that we are doing justice to those of former generations who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of our country, if now, when we have that freedom, we neglect to take the necessary steps for the preservation of the independence that was so costly to win? The Deputy talked about fear of war and about the blood-curdling threats and frightening speeches of Deputy de Valera but then he came along and said it could happen to-morrow. If it can happen to-morrow, what is our position? Apart from physical defence, there is also the defence of our people from the point of view of providing them with the absolute essentials to maintain life.
I do not know to what extent provision is being made. I have read in the newspapers what I regard as being an inspired headline in connection with this Vote on Account relating to the increase in expenditure this year over last year. The increase, it is stated, is due to stock piling. Stock piling of what? I have yet to know what we are stock piling. I saw in a paper an itemised statement to the effect that stock piling was taking place in the Army. Everybody knows that there is an increase in the cost of the Army. The ordinary clothing of the soldiers, even for the small numbers that we have, has gone up so much in cost that there has to be an increase in expenditure on the Army. Is this going to be a smokescreen for the purpose of refusing to admit that, in fact, there has been a substantial increase in the cost of every commodity? If that is the purpose, I think it is going to fail unless one can see the piles of what have been stocked.
Deputy O'Higgins says that we are very much better prepared than ever we were, and that we are getting more and more goods from our factories. Is it not a fact that a great number of our factories are in a very precarious position for the reason that they are not able to obtain supplies of essential raw materials to enable them to carry on? Did we not read in the newspapers the other day that a delegation of officials had gone across to the other side to negotiate with the British Administration for the release and delivery of certain commodities to this country? These commodities are not only coal, cotton and steel, but dozens of others which this country heretofore purchased from England. In view of that, how can it be suggested that our factories are producing more and more? The statement I refer to would appear to me to be an expression by someone of wishful thinking rather than a recognition of facts.
Deputy O'Higgins talked about the new factories which have been established in the last three years. When Fianna Fáil came into office and started its industrial development policy, questions appeared on the Order Paper every other day asking where were the new factories, and how many of them were what used to be called "back street basement workshops." Fianna Fáil started industries and some of them are thriving. Some, in fact, have improved in size and output. Why does not someone give us a list of the new factories which Deputy O'Higgins says were started in the last three years? I would be anxious to see the list and to give credit to the Administration for their establishment if I could be told where the new industries are.
We are told that agricultural output is higher now than ever it has been in the history of the country, that the building of houses has gone on more rapidly than ever, and that industrial output is up. I say that when Deputy O'Higgins pointed to these benches earlier to-day, and suggested that there were no representatives of the working farmers of the country on them, he was riding for a fall. He is going to get a very rude awakening because the test of the agricultural prosperity will be the answer which the population will give when the election that we expect comes. I have no doubt what the answer will be. If I am re-elected. I have no doubt that I will be sitting at the other side, but even if I am not, Fianna Fáil will be over there.
