asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that advertisements issued by his Department calling on farmers to keep more sows state that bonhams will be worth £5 each at ten weeks old; and if this means that it is the intention of Government to fix a minimum price for bonhams.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price for Bonhams.
I know the advertisement to which the Deputy refers. It does not mean that the price of bonhams will be fixed at any stated price, though it may be noted that such pigs fetched from £6 to £7 apiece on the Dublin market recently and prices in proportion were being paid in rural markets throughout the country.
Does the Minister not realise that if those advertisements have any effect they will result in an increase in the number of sows? Is it not inevitable that, having regard to the inadequate prices for bacon pigs at the present time, any increase in the number of bonhams will result in a reduction in price? Further, does the Minister not think that it is politically dishonest to hold out a sort of guarantee in a public advertisement of a price of £5 for pigs?
What about the spuds?
I certainly did not intend to be dishonest. I believed I was setting out to the public what was substantially true. If I am mistaken, the public will have ample opportunity of dealing with the matter.