§ 19. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the difficulties of the hat and other fur felt trades in having to depend almost entirely on Australian supplies of rabbits whose prices have risen by about 50 per cent. during the last six months owing to exceptionally heavy American buying; and whether he will take co-ordinating action so that rabbit clearance societies can co-operate by supplying dead rabbits to such trades and also helping our export trade to the United States of America, from which country there is a heavy and growing demand for rabbit skins.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade are aware of the difficulties of the hat and fur felt trades, but rabbit clearance societies are independent organisations set up by occupiers to free their land as far as practicable of wild rabbits. Most societies destroy rabbits by gassing, and many have made it a rule that such carcases as become available shall be destroyed. In those circumstances, my right hon. Friend con- 14 ciders that it would be inappropriate for him to take action along the lines proposed.
§ Mr. JannerHave any proposals been made to the Minister by the trades concerned? If the trades concerned are prepared to take the skins and are satisfied with them, are they not the people to decide whether the skins are suitable for the trade or not? Would this not be something in the direction of using our own supplies rather than spending foreign currency on obtaining supplies from elsewhere?
§ Mr. GodberRepresentations have been made, and it is true that it is quite possible that the skins may be suitable. However, the point in my Answer was that we do not wish to encourage people to regard wild rabbits in this country as a commercial undertaking. We think that that would be very dangerous.