21. Mr. E. J. YOUNG (for Mr. R. T. EVANS)asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Milk Marketing Board is experiencing at present any difficulty in disposing of milk surplus to domestic requirements; whether it anticipates any greater difficulty in doing so during the summer months; and whether he will bring to the notice of the board the advisability of using a part of its surplus in supplying schools and hospitals with additional quantities at the same price as is charged to manufacturers?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI understand that, at the level of prices obtaining for manufacturing milk in the current contract period, the Milk Marketing Board have experienced very little difficulty in disposing of surplus milk. Whether there will be greater difficulty during the summer months will again depend largely on prices. The board are, I am confident, fully alive to the importance of developing alternative outlets for liquid milk.
Mr. YOUNGIs it the fact that, in the event of the private milk manufacturer not being able to absorb the supplies, the Ministry of Agriculture have the power to erect a State factory in the same 1576 neighbourhood, and to enter into competition with the private trader?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am afraid that I could not answer a hypothetical question. That seems to be a very unlikely hypothesis.