§ Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Agriculture if, taking the prices in the first week of February, 1923, and February, 1924, he can state whether the prices received to-day by farmers for cattle, sheep, and pigs are less or more in the later period than the earlier; and whether such stock raising represents the main industry of mixed-farm occupiers?
§ Mr. BUXTONPrices of all classes of fat stock were lower in the first week of February, 1924, than in the corresponding week in 1923. As regards the latter part of the question, it would not be correct to say that stock raising is the main industry of mixed farms possessing a large proportion of arable land, but this industry accounts for a large proportion of the total output of all farms taken together.