asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the importance of expanding poultry and egg production, he will make an allowance of kerosene available during the summer months for incubators and brooders.

Although the kerosene supply position has improved, supplies will still be restricted and it will not be possible to meet the full requirements for all essential purposes. I am not in a position to make an allowance available for incubators and brooders which, I am advised, is not essential during the summer months.

Is the Minister aware that it was impossible for poultry-keepers to obtain new incubators during the winter season, because they were not in supply? At present, they are obtainable from merchants and a number of persons have purchased them. It is very discouraging to those who purchased incubators and brooders to find that they can get no kerosene. Surely the Minister should make an allowance of kerosene for those who purchased new incubators.

Has not the Minister for Agriculture repeatedly advised farmers to go in for poultry-keeping on a big scale? If the farmers cannot get kerosene for those incubators and brooders, what will be the position? We cannot have one section of the Government advocating poultry-raising and another section blocking it.

Why not?

I should be glad to supply kerosene for this or any other purpose if we had it.