§ Mr. CHADWICKasked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Chief Live Stock Commissioner of the United Kingdom to the effect that during the coming winter meat will probably cost more; whether his Department has formed any estimate of such increase; and whether he anticipates shortness of supply as well as dearness of price?
Mr. ROBERTSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Owing to the recent increases in the wages of agricultural labourers, and the price of feeding-stuffs and other articles, the cost of production of meat hasrisen considerably since September, 1918, the date of the fixing of the present guaranteed prices for cattle. It is therefore probable that in order to ensure supplies of home-produced meat in the coining winter, it will be necessary to raise these prices, though I cannot at the present time make a statement as to the increase which will actually be required. A certain shortage in the supply of home-produced meat is anticipated in the early months of 1920, but it is expected that the supplies of frozen meat will be equal to the demand.