§ 51. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Food why rabbits are being gassed in this country in order to get rid of them and, at the same time, are being imported from New Zealand.
§ The Minister of Food (Colonel Llewellin)I am informed that rabbits are only gassed when it is impracticable to kill, them in a way that makes the flesh available for human food. I want as many as possible for this purpose, and that is why we are importing some from New Zealand, as we did before the war.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the Minister aware that if he removed the controlled price he would find that there are ample supplies in this country, and that it would rid the farmer of one of his worst pests?
Colonel LlewellynI think that the price at present, which is double the pre-war price, is quite a sufficient inducement to farmers and trappers.