asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the terms of the Egg Agreement with Great Britain which, in order to get the more remunerative prices for eggs, requires this country to supply a stated quantity of eggs during the year 1947 regardless of season, he will state what steps he proposes to take to stimulate egg production during that year; in particular, whether he will increase the period during which bounty will be paid for the production of day-old chicks; and if he will encourage the appointment, even if only in certain areas, of additional poultry instructresses.

With due regard to the present difficult situation in regard to animal feeding stuffs generally, it is intended to encourage poultry producers by propaganda and otherwise to increase laying stocks where possible and to give particular care to the maintenance of existing flocks and the prevention of waste of either feeding stuffs or eggs. It is intended during the present year to use any funds which may be available from deductions in the price of poultry to supplement the value of eggs and to continue the scheme of special prices for spring cockerels.

It is not proposed to extend the period, approximately December to April, during which the premiums payable under the poultry stations scheme to holders of hen and hen-and-duck stations may be earned. This part of the scheme is devised to encourage early hatching, an object which could not be attained by extending the period beyond April. Appointments of poultry instructresses are made by county committees of agriculture and it is the policy of the Department of Agriculture to encourage committees to appoint additional instructresses.

Is propaganda good diet for laying hens?

Surely the Minister realises that early production of chicks was important when the winter price had a very important bearing on production generally. The situation has changed in recent years because of the terms of the agreement and I think the Minister should consider extending that period, to encourage production, later than April. Early production was important at a time when you had a free market and when winter prices were of some importance.

Apart from the early pullet laying eggs early in the year, the early pullet lays other eggs in the year.

Is the Minister aware that many poultry keepers who had arrangements made for the production of day-old chicks must now abandon the arrangements because they cannot get paraffin oil for their incubators?

The Deputy would want to raise that elsewhere.

Can the Minister say how much money he managed to take off the turkey producers?

That is a separate question.

The Minister referred to the fund, Sir.

It is a separate question.

The Minister spoke of the fund in his answer. I will ask it on another question.