§ 50. Captain John Crowderasked the Minister of Food how many Australian and New Zealand rabbits there are in stock in this country; what further quantity is to be imported under existing contracts; and whether he is satisfied that all these rabbits will be sold without any financial loss to his Department.
§ Mr. WebbSince the middle of September, 1949, retailers have been offered all the rabbits they want, but because other foods have been more plentiful, demand has fallen off this spring and stocks have accumulated. I am not prepared to give figures of stocks or of expected arrivals. As prices have been reduced to encourage sales, I expect there will be some financial loss, how much, I cannot say until stocks are cleared.
§ Captain CrowderIs the Minister aware that he has already had 600,000 cases of these rabbits, that there are 200,000 more to come under contract, and 1960 that the result of reducing the price by 40 per cent. will involve his Department in a loss which is likely to be in the neighbourhood of £1 million? Will he try to get rid of these rabbits and thus release storage accommodation?
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyDoes not the Minister agree that all these stocks could have been sold without loss to the country had the advice of the trade been taken and they had been unloaded at the time when the meat ration was down to 10d. and bacon was in short supply?