§ 61. Mr. George Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with the formation of a new domestic poultry keepers' organisation; and what assistance he proposes to afford it.
§ Mr. NugentTwenty-seven county federations of domestic poultry clubs have been set up and a preliminary meeting of delegates from county federations has been called for 3rd May to consider a constitution for the national organisation and plans for holding its first meeting.
The new organisation will receive financial assistance from the Government in the initial period of its development. Such assistance will be on a diminishing scale and the organisation will be expected to become self-supporting.
§ Mr. BrownWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that one very great form of assistance for this very desirable development would be to make some issue of balancer meal to members of the federations and of clubs? As we had 12½ million domestic hens during the war feeding something like 5 million people, will the hon. Gentleman not consider doing something of this kind?
§ Mr. NugentI am afraid I cannot hold out any hope to the right hon. Gentle- 1902 man that there can be an increase of the existing ration for domestic purposes.
§ Mr. BrownDoes the hon. Gentleman not recognise that if we are to feed people better than they are now being fed, this is a valuable source of supply that makes small demands both on scarce currency and imported feedingstuffs?
§ Mr. NugentI do indeed, but the food ration for domestic poultry keepers could only be provided by subtracting it from that given to commercial poultry keepers, and at the present time that is not in the general interest.