§ 34. Sir P. HARRISasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, during the first four months of this year, the prices of New Zealand butter and cheese have averaged 12 per cent. more than those of the same period of last year, whereas the average price for milk paid during the same period by the National Milk Pool to the home farmer was a halfpenny a gallon less than a year ago; and whether he will, in formulating a long-term policy for agriculture, give special attention to means of increasing the consumption of liquid milk in preference to placing restrictions upon butter and cheese from the oversea Dominions?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am aware of the facts referred to and shall certainly keep the hon. Member's suggestion in mind in any consideration of long-term policy. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that no restrictions are or have been placed upon imports of butter and cheese from the oversea Dominions, and in the statement I made on 25th July last on the subject of milk policy I indicated how, in the Government's view, assistance could best be afforded to the home industry.