§ Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the discontent amongst the industrial population due to the inferior class of food stuff which is being supplied to them, such as flour, bacon, butter, and butchers' meat; that it is interfering with their physical efficiency and diminishing output; and what steps are being taken to guarantee a superior quality to that which is at present supplied?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am aware that the quality of certain foodstuffs has suffered deterioration during the War, and that we have not yet completely recovered from the injurious effects of the War in this respect. I have received complaints from time to time as regards the quality of individual consignments of foodstuffs, not only from the industrial population, but from other sections of the community, but I have no evidence that the physical efficiency of the working classes is being unfavourably affected or output diminished. Every effort is made by my Department to improve the standard of quality of controlled foodstuffs.