Special Committee Pigs and Bacon Bill, 1934 díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Apr 1935

SECTION 111.

(1) Every person who holds or has held a licence shall, for every half-year during which or any part of which he holds or has held such licence, pay to the Board in respect of such licence a levy calculated at the rate of the prescribed sum for every carcase used for the production of bacon during such half-year at the premises to which such licence relates.

(6) Every certificate of indebtedness shall be conclusive evidence of all matters purported to be certificate of indebtedness issued under this section shall, on production thereof in any proceedings to recover the amount thereby certified to be payable, be deemed until the contrary is proved to be a certificate of indebtedness duly issued under this section and shall be admitted in evidence accordingly.

Deputy Dillon

I move amendment No. 105:—

In sub-section (1), line 36, to delete the words " half year " and substitute therefor the words " calendar month ".

It occurred to me that there would be no more difficulty in fixing a period of a calendar month than half a year, and that it would be easier to collect one month's levy than six months' levy, if there was default by the curer. The loss would be less if there was default in respect of one month's levy than if the curer had defaulted in respect of six months' levy.

Minister for Agriculture

The Deputy is aware, I suppose, that the levy is very small. It would be less than 6d. per pig.

Deputy Dillon

Sixpence per pig. It is the Minister's business whether the period should be a month or six months and it is for him to choose which is best.

Minister for Agriculture

The amendment might be a useful one in some other connection but hardly here. The levy is very small.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Deputy Dillon

I move amendment No. 106:—

In sub-section (6), line 7, to delete the word " conclusive " and to substitute therefor the words " prima facie ".

Amendment agreed to.

Section 111, as amended, agreed to and added to the Bill.