§ 54. Mr. T. Macphersonasked the Minister of Food whether, in order to increase supplies of eggs and poultry, he will give favourable consideration to the purchase and import of maize and other poultry feeding stuffs to supplement present rations.
§ Sir B. SmithYes, Sir, the purchase and import of maize will be undertaken as supplies become available. The present shortage of maize is mainly due to the failure of the Argentine crop. As to the latter part of the Question, the present rationing programme provides for increased quantities of food for poultry to be issued from 1st May, 1946. From that date, commercial poultry keepers will be allowed rations of feeding stuffs on the basis of one-third of their 1939 poultry numbers.