§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that at the present controlled price of butter farmers are making a loss and that the scarcity of butter in the country is due to the controlled price being below the cost of production; and whether he will look into this matter without delay and adjust the price?
§ Lieut.-Colonel WEIGALLasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present veto on the sale of cream and the restrictions upon the sale of butter in regard to both prices and quantity not only preclude the diversion of surplus milk into these products, the demand for which greatly exceeds the present supply, but 1038W also discourage the rearing of calves and thereby seriously prejudice the future of stock raising in this country; and whether, in these circumstances, he Will give instructions for all restrictions upon the sale of cream and butter to be removed immediately or by the 1st January, 1.920, at latest?
Mr. ROBERTSI am aware that the maximum retail price of butter is not on a parity with the price of milk, but the present scarcity of butter is mainly due to the serious reduction in the quantity of imported butter available. As I have already stated, I am considering the question of freeing all home agricultural products, except wheat, at some point or points during the first six months of next year, and the remission of the present restrictions on the sale of cream will be dealt with in connection with the general question.