§ 66. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, to supplement the meat resources of the country, he will commandeer all available stocks of rabbits and organise local corps of rabbiters for their catching and delivery; and is he aware of the boon to agriculture and forestry that would ultimately accrue by the extermination of these animals?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)I am not sure that rabbits would respond at all readily to a commandeering order, and I fear that it is not possible in the present state of the labour supply to increase very substantially their present rate of destruction. Great numbers of rabbits are coming on to the market, and at the suggestion of the Board the War Office have agreed to issue rabbit meat as an occasional substitute for the ordinary meat ration, wherever this is possible. I personally agree with the hon. and gallant Member that both agriculture and forestry would be enormously benefited by the absolute extermination of rabbits.
§ Mr. REDDYWill the right hon. Gentleman recommend that the hon. and gallant Member should go rabbiting when he will not go to the front?
§ Mr. ACLANDIf the suggestion is to be taken seriously, I would rather talk with the hon. Member privately about the latter suggestion.