asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why it was decided to base the price of bacon on prices paid for pigs on 2nd December, 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Bacon.
Under the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, the maximum price of bacon in each area was controlled at the lowest price charged by the vendor in each area during the standard week, that is, the week ended on the 2nd December, 1950. The Bacon (Maximum Prices) Order, 1951, is based on the general prices charged during the standard week and was made so as to establish uniform prices and to prevent evasion of the standstill Order.
Is the Minister aware that the fixing of this price based on 2nd December last has resulted in a reduction of 25/- per cwt. to the pig producers and that this reduction, at a time when the price of feeding stuffs has increased, has, in the words of the Minister for Agriculture, infuriated pig producers?
Pig producers in this House very often pretend to be infuriated when they are perfectly calm and satisfied outside. The price of any article when it is fixed is fixed with due regard to the welfare of the producer, the processor and the consumer. The price on 2nd December last was a price which was uncontrolled—there was no control of bacon. It was the price that normal business transactions arrived at. The only difference made in this Order is that the price of pork has been increased and the price of sausages and puddings decontrolled.
Is the Minister prepared to receive representations on behalf of the pig producers in regard to this matter?
Not pig producers alone: before the advisory board, the pig producers, the consumers, the curers and the retailers.
Would the Minister not indicate to Deputy Cogan why he has retained these prices on farm produce, while there are many industrial products from which the price freeze Order has been removed, without the consumers being consulted or anybody else?
In general, there is no control of the price of farm produce and every farmer here is getting the benefit of it. The Deputy knows that. Other commodities are controlled. If the Deputy wants it otherwise, let him make that case.