Vol. 223 No. 7
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to a report that the chairman of a co-operative creamery sued the society and was awarded damages for a discrepancy in the butter fat test; and if he is prepared to make a statement on the matter.
28.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied with the present butter fat testing system in creameries which makes no provision for an appeal by the supplier in case of dissatisfaction.
29.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied with the arrangement whereby a milk supplier to a creamery is not aware of the result of the butter fat test of his milk until a variable date in the second half of the month following the test.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 27 to 29 together.
Detailed regulations for the sampling and testing at creameries of milk for butter-fat content and for the recording of such tests are set out in the Milk and Cream (Calculation of Price) Order, 1928, which was made under the Dairy Produce Act, 1924.
The Order does not specifically provide for an appeal procedure in cases of dispute between suppliers and creamery owners, but the accuracy of sampling and testing of milk at creamery premises is regularly checked in the course of random routine inspections by officers of my Department and, in addition, check-tests are carried out as necessary to reassure any suppliers who may have doubts as to the accuracy of creamery testing in their particular cases. Perhaps I might say at this point that a recent intensive examination of this nature extending over 15 days at a creamery in north Cork indicated that on no occasion during that period had milk samples been inaccurately taken or tested.
Furthermore, under the general rules adopted by a large number of co-operative creamery societies, there is provision for the resolution of disputes between the society concerned and any of its members by means of arbitration conducted under the aegis of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society.
Arrangements for notifying milk suppliers of the results of butter-fat tests are matters within the discretion of the owners of the creamery premises concerned. If any appreciable number of members of a co-operative creamery society should wish to be notified of the results of these tests at more frequent intervals than is at present the practice, it should be feasible for them to make effective representations to the management committee.
I have seen the press report to which the Deputy refers in Question No. 27, and it seems to me to be a matter for regret that the co-operative society in question did not endeavour to have the case concerned settled by arbitration on the lines indicated in the general rules to which I have referred.
