asked the Taoiseach if he is aware that, for the purposes of the National Farm Survey, 1957-58, page 3, "household consumption" of farm butter, eggs, poultry and pigs is valued at national average agricultural prices, and milk and other items are valued at local prices, but payment in kind to farm employees, such as meals (page 4) is charged at the excessive values fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board (which are substantially in excess of local retail or average prices), and that the "hired labour expenses" are thereby inflated; and if he will state why the farm workers' diet is given a much higher value than the farmers' diet.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Farm Survey: Hired Labour Expenses.
1.
I am aware of the methods of valuation used in respect of "household consumption" in the National Farm Survey 1957-58 and that they are generally as stated at (1) and (2) of the Deputy's question. I am also aware that, in the survey, remuneration in kind of employees was valued at Agricultural Wages Board rates in the computation of "hired labour expenses." I consider that the procedure as adopted by the Central Statistics Office in this case was the most appropriate one to use in the circumstances.
The Agricultural Wages Board is, under sub-section (3) of Section 17 of the Agricultural Wages Board Act, 1936, empowered to define the benefits or advantages which may be reckoned as payment of wages in lieu of payment in cash, and the value at which these may be reckoned. These benefits include other items as well as the value of meals supplied to farm workers by their employers. I cannot accept the Deputy's assumption that, in the Agricultural Wages (Minimum Rates) Order, 1956, meals and other benefits are charged for at excessive values.
It is not correct to say that in the National Farm Survey farm workers' diet was given a higher value than farmers' diet since no valuation of the farmers' diet was necessary for the purpose of the survey.
Question No. 2 postponed.