§ 35. Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Minister of Agriculture what are the comparative average prices of lambs, fat ewes and pigs to-day, as against the prices ruling at the same time in the last three years, respectively; and whether the retail prices of mutton, bacon, etc., have fallen accordingly?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEIf it is the case, as I believe it is, that retail prices have not fallen correspondingly and that wholesale prices have fallen to an alarming extent, does my right hon. Friend not think that immediate legislation of a temporary character at any rate is necessary to preserve this industry from disaster altogether in the next few months?
§ Following is time answer:
§ workers from Ireland actually employed on farm work in Norfolk at the present time is in the neighbourhood of 100. I understand that practically all the workers concerned come from the Irish Free State. The work on which they are employed at present is hoeing and singling sugar beet, which is nearly completed, but it is understood that a proportion of these men will probably remain in this country for work on the hay and corn harvests, and possibly also for the autumn lifting of roots. As 887 regards the last part of the question, I understand that a considerable number of Norfolk agricultural workers who were previously unemployed have been absorbed in employment during the last few weeks, arid I feel sure that every effort is being made by the farmers to absorb all suitable local workers.
§ Mr. LAMBERTAre we to understand that all Norfolk labourers are employed?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, I did not say so.