asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that knitting-wool for the manufacture of home made articles such as socks, cardigans, etc., is in short supply and is difficult to obtain in West Cork towns; if he will state whether ample supplies of such material are available in this country; and if so, if he will make arrangements for its more equitable distribution.

I am aware that there is a general shortage of hand-knitting yarn, though I have no information which would indicate that the shortage is more acute in West Cork than it is elsewhere. Supplies of hand-knitting yarns have been substantially increased, and the shortage is due mainly to the exceptionally heavy demand. A further increase in supply could be obtained only at the expense of cloth and hosiery production in factories and workshops and I do not consider it would be in the public interest to adopt this means of increasing the output of hand-knitting yarn. It would not be feasible to devise an official rationing scheme and I have no reason to believe that the manufacturers and distributors are not making an equitable distribution of supplies.