§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will state how many dairy societies, or so-called creameries, are in existence in Ireland, and the number of proprietary ones, and what quantity of butter is produced annually in them and the probable annual value of the same for each year for the past three years; what has been the total amount given in subsidies to those dairy societies since the establishment of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, and are any subsidies still being given to them; how many of those dairy societies have paid an annual dividend to shareholders, and what has been the contribution from them to the revenue; and whether the Department is at present contemplating a scheme to supply those dairy societies with the daily reports of the butter markets of the world, and will private traders in the butter trade be also supplied with the same information.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) It is understood by the Department of Agriculture that there are over 800 creameries in Ireland, of which 340 are co-operative concerns, the remainder being proprietary and joint stock creameries. There is no information available which would 843 enable a reliable estimate to be made of the butter production of creameries or its value. No subsidies have been made by the Department to dairy societies. The Department will endeavour to procure information as to the number of societies that have paid dividends. No information is available as to the contribution from dairy societies to the revenue. A proposal was made that the Department should circulate among those creameries which would contribute to the expense of procuring the information particulars of prices at certain markets in the United Kingdom. It was decided not to take action in the matter for the present season, as the practicability of obtaining reliable information on the subject in the manner suggested was considered doubtful.