§ SIR EDWARD BIRKBECKI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the recommendations, Nos. 23 and 26 of the Royal Commission on Market Rights and Tolls, in which they recommend—
That markets which are now required to be provided with machines for weighing cattle should be furnished with sufficient and suitable accommodation for the same";and—That statistics of the market prices of meat, and in particular of the prices of cattle at per stone live weight, should be collected";and whether he will take the necessary steps to give effect to the same?
§ MR. CHAPLINMy attention has been called to the matters referred to in the question of my hon. Friend. With regard to the first part of the question, I have no doubt that the provision of adequate accommodation for weighing live cattle at markets is a great advantage to farmers and others when they make use of it, although I am bound to say, from all the information which reaches me, that in the majority of cases they appear to have been somewhat slow to avail themselves of it. I am, however, making careful inquiry into the subject, with a view to giving effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission. Upon the matters contained in the second part of the question, namely, the market price of meat, and the prices of cattle by live weight, I am now in communication with the Board of Trade with the same object.