Bennett's of Ballinacurra Descriptive List (Ref. B609)

B609/

the British maltings. He notes, however, ‘I understand that fairly searching local enquiries are made about men before they can be accepted for work in England, and possibly some of your men would not be passed’. A letter of 14 February relates to the Barley Conference, which included discussions between AGS and the Irish Maltsters’ Association regarding seed barley. There are many letters from November 1941 regarding the use of barley as an animal feedstuff, and the distribution of seed barley. A letter of 13 October concerns arrangements agreed with the Cereals Distribution Committee (Department of Agriculture) to simplify purchase, movement, and malting of barley for AGS. Some letters are present referring to purchases from Dungarvan and Shelburne Co-Ops. B609/1/A/26 Letters from AGS, 1 September 1942 to 31 August 1943. A letter of 20 August 1943 from C Buttanshaw, AGS, to Mrs West, begins ‘This season, we only ask you to make your basic quantity of 21,000 barrels of malt, and this will, of course, be subject to any restrictions which may be imposed by government action’. Letter of 19 August discusses barley threshed by combine harvester. A letter of 11 August discusses appointment of agents. A letter of 22 October 1942 includes copies of correspondence regarding Mr T Wallis, and his attempts to gain stocks of Guinness for his new public house. It is explained that rationing prevents this. A letter of 4 September refers to the ‘black market’ in barley [see also B609/9/E/26]. B609/1/A/27 Letters from AGS, 1 September 1943 to 31 August 1944. A letter of 18 August 1944 from C. Buttanshaw, Malt Dept, to Mrs West, concerns uncertainty over the quantity of malt to be made this season (owing to restrictions) and asks ‘please go all out to get all the malting barley you can’. A letter of 12 August discusses licensed barley dealers and their agents, and the requirement that they must buy all barley in reasonable condition offered to them. A number of letters covering AGS cheques are grouped together among June 1944 letters. A letter of 17 May forwards a copy of a new order by the minister for supplies regarding importation of fuel. In a letter of 17 January, Buttanshaw states to Mrs West ‘I am sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with the Trade Unions’. He adds ‘I wonder if you would be in a stronger position if your Firm joined the Irish Maltsters’ Association. I think I mentioned to you some time ago, in view of recent legislation, we had no objection to our Commission Houses becoming members’ [see also B609/9/E/8-9]. Dated 7 October is a report of Estimation of the Yield of barley by the Square Yard Method – 1943. The file contains many references to Castlelyons and Dungarvan Co-Ops, the latter in particular being a key wartime supplier. B609/1/A/28 Letters from AGS, 1 September 1944 to 31 August 1945. A letter of 20 August 1945 from Buttanshaw to Mrs West begins ‘The amount of malt we can ask you to make this season is very uncertain and is likely to remain so for some time’. A letter of 5 March concerns transfer of barley to Cork Distilleries Co [a recurring subject]. A letter 22 February thanks Mrs West for hers expressing sympathy on the death of lord Elveden. A letter of 15 February covers a letter