§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that a rumour is abroad in different parts of the country that the Government intend at an early date to commandeer the whole stock of pigs and to issue an Order for the compulsory sale to butchers, at fixed prices, and that small private pig-keepers will not be allowed to retain their own pigs for the purpose of curing for home consumption; and, seeing that this rumour is having a detrimental effect upon the supply of pigs, as many people are hastening to kill and cure before the Order shall come into force, thus reducing the store by Wiling immature pigs, whether he can make some statement on the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have been asked to reply to this question. It does not appear necessary in present circumstances to commandeer the whole stock of pigs, and in any case it would not appear desirable to interfere with the practice of small pig-keepers curing their own pigs for home consumption. The killing of immature pigs is a most regrettable effect of a rumour for which no justification is known, and the Food Controller is glad to have an opportunity of contradicting it.