§ 74. Mr. JOHN O'CONNORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Food Controller in fixing the price of Irish bacon considered the effects of the same as compared with the price fixed for English bacon; is he aware that the price of Irish pigs has already fallen 3s. per cwt., thus causing a loss of £1,500,000 sterling in a year to farmers and others in Ireland; that English buyers are buying Irish pigs at the lesser price, importing them to England, and selling them in England as English bacon at the higher price; and whether the Minister will find some means of coming to a more equitable arrangement whereby what seems to be an injustice may be removed?
Captain BATHURSTI have already informed the House that the price of provisions, including bacon, is periodically revised by the Home and Foreign Produce Exchange. The most recent revision took place on Friday last, when the price of Irish bacon was advanced 3s. per cwt., no change being made in the price of English bacon.
§ Mr. DILLONIn revising the price will the hon. Gentleman keep before his mind the grave danger of the total destruction of the pig-rearing industry by the enormous increase in the price of food and the difficulty, almost amounting to impossibility, of obtaining food for pigs?
Captain BATHURSTThat is being constantly borne in mind, but it must be re-membered that there is a great deal of food now given to pigs which would be more economically utilised if it were given direct to human beings.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that within the last four weeks the number of pigs killed in Ireland has been reduced by over 25 per cent., thereby lessening the quantity of food for the use of people, and is he further aware that the feeling amongst the Irish farmers is that they are going to oease rearing and fattening pigs for market owing to the actual loss in the market value of them?