§ 35. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether an Order recently issued by the Irish Food Controller prohibits the milling of pure flour in Ireland, namely, flour with bran and pollard extracted; whether this Order applies to the private supply of wheat grown by the farmer for his own use; and, if so, whether, seeing that the farmer in growing wheat looked to supplying feeding stuff in the most economical way for his cattle, pigs, etc., as well as for his family's use, and as this Order, if enforced, will lead to the discouragement of the growth of wheat and other crops, he will consider the advisability of having it withdrawn altogether?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. It is essential in the national interest that all wheat should be strictly conserved for human food.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that bran is one of the offals of wheat, and is mainly instrumental in the production of milk and butter in Ireland; and that pollard, another of the offals, is mainly instrumental in the production of bacon; is he aware that both of these offals are not now completely disappearing, with the result that milk, butter, and bacon are all becoming very scarce?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am aware of what is stated in the question, but I do not know that I agree with the conclusion.
§ Mr. O'DOWDWill the hon. Gentleman say how he can expect milk, butter, and bacon produced by the people of Ireland when they cannot get offals to produce them?
§ Mr. DILLONSupposing the Irish farmers seriously stopped the production of wheat, you could not make them grow it?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe reply given to that in the answer declares that it is essential 11 in the national interest that food should be conserved as far as possible for human uses.
§ Mr. DILLONIf the farmers stop the production of wheat, you cannot make them grow it!
§ 36. Mr. O'DOWDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that Stuart's Mill, situate in Boyle, county Roscomnon, which has hitherto milled pure flour only, returning with it bran and pollard, has been practically shut down by order of the Food Controller; and, if so, whether, as this is the only mill in the counties of Roscommon and Sligo which was solely occupied in milling the wheat and oats grown by the farmers of these counties, he will cancel the Order prohibiting its working?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So soon as the mill has been put into such condition as will enable the miller to comply with existing Regulations, the Order prohibiting its working will be cancelled.
§ Mr. O'DOWDSeeing this mill has been specially equipped for the purpose of grinding wheat, will the Food Controller issue a special Order that the mill may be put into working order?
§ Mr. CLYNESI can only say that the mill was treated like every other mill in Ireland and England.