§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can indicate the results following the milk publicity campaign to which the Empire Marketing Board contributed £225,000; and what further measures are in view in co-operation with the organisations of farmers and distributors?
§ Mr. AMERYI have been asked to answer this question. The Empire Marketing Board have obtained returns from milk retailers throughout the country, including private firms and cooperative societies, showing their weekly retail sales of milk before and after the Board's milk publicity campaign was launched, with corresponding figures for the year 1927. The normal consumption of milk is greater in the summer than in the winter months, but in 65 per cent. of the returns the increase in sales after mid-April this year was greater than the corresponding increase last year. Of the remaining 35 per cent., a large proportion were in districts where industrial depression is most acute. The Empire Marketing Board intimated, when the original grant of £25,000 was approved, that, in considering the question of any further grant for this purpose, they would in part be guided by the prospect of producers and distributors themselves devoting to a campaign for the same purpose a sum equal to the contribution on behalf of the Board. No indication has been received either from producers or distributors that such a contribution would be forthcoming, and the question of further measures is, accordingly, not at present before the Board.