§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentages of the prices which farmers have received in the past year for each of the Review commodities have been provided through the price guarantee system operated under the Agriculture Act, 1957.
§ Mr. John HareThe following table gives the amount of Exchequer assistance expressed as a percentage of the estimated average market values for each of the commodities guaranteed under the Agriculture Act, 1957, for the periods shown.
Commodity Period Percentage of estimated average market value Per cent Fat Cattle 1957–58 Financial Year 24 Fat Sheep 1957–58 Financial Year 21 Fat Pigs 1957–58 Financial Year 29 Shell Eggs (Note 1) 1957–58 Financial Year 47 Milk (Note 2) 1957–58 Financial Year 5 Wheat Cereal Year to end June, 1958. 42 Rye Cereal Year to end June, 1958. 10 Barley Cereal Year to end June, 1958. 40 Oats Cereal Year to end June, 1958. 27 Wool 1957 Clip 21 Potatoes — (see Note 3) NOTES: (1) The estimated market value is assumed to be the average price at which eggs are delivered to wholesalers. (2) The estimated market value is assumed to be the average return to milk producers less the subsidy. (3) It is not practicable to estimate with any accuracy the average market value of potatoes eligible for guarantee. Exchequer assistance in respect of the 1957 crop would however in any event only represent a very small percentage of this.