asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether all the pigs purchased by licensed curers in this country are cured into bacon; and if not, if he will give statistics to show, over the last three months, production as between bacon and pork.

All pigs purchased by licensed curers are not cured into bacon. Of the 76,489 pigs so purchased during the three months ended 31st May, 1947, 58,308 were used for the production of bacon, 13,284 were sold as pork carcases, 4,739 were used for the manufacture of sausages and other pork products and condemnations amounted to 158.

Does the Minister consider it desirable to have such a high percentage of pigs going for pork purposes at present in view of the very low number of pigs we have?

Whatever the Minister considers desirable, he has no power to interfere with this process.

Does he not think it necessary to take power?

I have been told for the last two days that I should have no power at all in the matter.

The Minister surely appreciates that because of the competitive price for pork, the tendency is to sell pigs as pork. The Minister appreciates that?

I think I have made that clear in my opening statement on the Estimate.