§ 52. Captain Yorkasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the sole power of issuing coupons for rations to pig clubs has been given to the Small Pigkeepers' Council and why a condition prescribed by this Council that an affiliation fee of 10s., or 5s. in the case of very small clubs, must be paid to them by each pig club has been permitted in respect of the rationing of pigs when it is not required for the rationing of other small livestock; and whether he is aware that in some areas the formation of pig clubs is being seriously hampered by the resentment caused by this condition?
Mr. HudsonSmall pigkeepers may obtain allowances of rationed feeding-stuffs either through the medium of clubs registered with the Small Pigkeepers' Council or, as individuals, through the County 177 War Agricultural Executive Committees. The Small Pigkeepers' Council provides many services in other directions for registered clubs which could not be made available except through a central body of this kind, and the very small registration fee contributes towards the cost of these services and is in no sense a charge for an allowance of rationed feeding-stuffs. I have no evidence that any general exception is taken to these arrangements.