§ 22. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received resolutions from many county councils in Ireland pointing out the difficulty of procuring fertilisers for immediate use on the land without which, in many parts of Ireland, the food-production scheme cannot properly be carried out; and, if so, can he say what action, if any, the Department propose to take in regard to the matter?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Department of Agriculture have received resolutions from some county committees of agriculture as regards the difficulty of procuring fertilisers for immediate use. The stocks usually accumulated by manufacturers at the beginning of the season have been almost cleared out owing to the extra demand for fertilisers this year, and dp-liveries are limited to the regular weekly output of about 3,500 tons. Every effort is being made to secure the importation of sufficient raw mineral phosphate to maintain the output and, if possible, to supplement it by the sale of a two parts to one mixture. I am informed that manufacturers are doing their utmost to distribute the weekly output as fairly as possible.
§ Mr. DUKENo fertilisers are being sent to Denmark from Ireland. I do not know what fertilisers are being sent from this country to Denmark.