91. Captain BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to prevent excessive prices being charged to farmers for cattle cake and milling offals, seeing that the cost of these commodities is now more than double their pre-War cost and is steadily rising, and is largely responsible for the present high prices of milk and meat?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe high prices of feeding stuffs have not escaped my notice, and the hon. and gallant Member may be sure that the possible ways of bringing about a reduction are receiving close consideration.
Captain BATHURSTMay I ask whether in cases where the manufacturer is making a substantial profit out of the main product that he should be disallowed from making an equally substantial profit out of the by-product which is of great value to animals?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI have gone very closely into this question, and the indications are that the real cause of the high price of feeding stuffs is freight, and not profits made at home. That is as far as I am able to ascertain, and I have gone personally into it in the last few days.
§ Colonel CROFTDoes it not resolve itself into seeing that by every means in our power we must have more production in this country, giving these by-products at the same time?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYIn the event of the hon. Gentleman being able to reduce the cost of feeding stuffs, will he revise the maximum prices which have been fixed for milk?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI think we should be very fortunate to maintain feeding stuffs at present prices. The danger is of them rising higher.
§ Mr. PRETYMANI have, and of feeding stuffs generally. That is the danger we have to try and avoid.