§ Mr. Ross Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture the reduction in the number of producer-retailers of milk during the past 18 months; and whether, in view of the fact that such producer-retailers are going out of business because of the amount of clerical work involved in keeping the records and making the returns now required of them, he will take steps to ensure that such work is rendered less onerous by simplifying the procedure?
§ Mr. BoothbyThere has been a reduction in the number of producer-retailers of milk during the past 18 months of 1,736 (2.8 per cent.) but I have no evidence to show that this reduction has been caused by the clerical work involved in keeping records and making returns. The reduction in the number of producer-retailer licences is due in the main to the sale of businesses but is accounted for to some extent by producer-retailers entering into contracts for the sale of milk through the Milk Marketing Board instead of direct to consumers. The quantity of milk sold by producer-retailers in July 1940 was over one million gallons more than the quantity sold in July 1939.