§ MR. J. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that a number of co-operative creamery societies in Ireland erected Pasteurising machinery in the interest of the public health whilst deriving no trading benefit whatever from its use; if the only aid given by the Department to these societies consisted in loans of £200 repayable in five years with 3 per cent. interest, whilst at the same time free grants amounting to about £20,000 were made to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society in Dublin; and, seeing that many of these societies are indebted to banks and thereby handicapped in the work of maintaining the Irish butter trade against the competition of capitalists at home and of the State-aided creameries of Denmark and other foreign countries, will he apply a portion of the surplus at the disposal of the Department in recouping these societies for the outlay incurred by them in the interest of the public health.
(Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) Twenty-five co-operative creamery societies have obtained from the Department loans varying from £100 to £350 each for the erection of Pasteurising plant. The money was advanced at 3 per cent. interest, repayable in five years. The loans were made to societies presumably affiliated with the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. Technical advice in matters connected with the creamery industry is also afforded by the Department free of charge to such societies as desire to avail themselves of it. The Department are of the opinion that the creameries derive sufficient trading benefit from the use of Pasteurising plant to repay them for their outlay thereon. 1306 The Department do not propose to apply any portion of their funds in recouping these creamery societies for their outlay on Pasteurising plant.