asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that many farmers are unable to carry out farm improvement schemes because of the great scarcity of cement; and if he will make a statement on the present position with regard to the supply and distribution of cement.

The cement factories are in full production and cement is being supplied to the market at the rate of some 8,000 tons per week, which should be more than sufficient to meet all demands. I am not aware that scarcity of cement is at present holding up farm improvement schemes. Brief shortages may have occurred in particular areas, but if so they were due to distribution difficulties and were rectified quickly.

Is the Minister aware that Cement, Limited, states to its customers that it is now four weeks in arrear with all deliveries and that at the present moment an order tendered to the cement company is under a rationing scheme set up by the company—after the Minister has dispensed with his own rationing scheme—and that delivery cannot be made in less than four weeks after the cement company has undertaken to give the cement?

I have already said that the production of cement at present is proceeding at the fullest capacity of the industry and that it should be more than sufficient to meet all demands.

I am telling the Minister what I know to be a fact. I had a letter a few days ago from the cement company saying that it would take four weeks before they could deliver it. There is no use in trying to fool me.