asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what steps he is taking, if any, to ensure that there shall be an equal distribution of all available artificial manures amongst the farming community during the coming season.

The distribution of the relatively small supply of artificial manures available for the coming season's crops is engaging the attention of my Department.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, I want to say that I put down that question so that the same thing which happened last year would not take place. I hope the Minister will see that it does not, and that there will be something like equitable distribution. I hope he will see to it that men with plenty of money will not come along in November and December and buy up all the manures available.

Will the Minister say whether any artificial manures will be available?

I do not think they will be generally available.

Has there been any appreciable increase in the output of phosphate rock?

Comparatively there has been a very big increase, but taking the total it is small.