asked the Minister for Agriculture whether representations have been made to him by Mayo local authorities protesting against the deduction of 2/- freight and 2/- buying allowance on pigs delivered at the Castlebar bacon factory, by producers on live weight terms, and, if so, if he will state what he has indicated in reply to those representations.

Any representations as to the deductions made from the price of pigs delivered at bacon factories for freight and buying allowance should be addressed to the Pigs Marketing Board.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, would I be correct in saying that it is contrary to the law for any licensed bacon curer to purchase pigs at a factory on a live weight basis?

No; not unless it is defined as a factory pig, which, as the Deputy perhaps remembers, is a pig sold by dead weight in the factory.

It is open to the factory to purchase any pig live weight if it pleases?

If the seller wishes to have his pig purchased at live weight then the factory is bound in fact to deduct the freight and buying allowances.

It is at the seller's option, is it not? The seller can insist on the pig being bought at the factory dead weight if he so wishes?

I would not like to say that definitely, but I do not think any factory would refuse to buy a pig dead weight.

Is the Minister aware that 7½ per cent. is deducted from the price the farmer receives?