asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the difficulty experienced by farmers in trying to provide bread for workers engaged on threshing operations; and if he will be prepared to grant an allocation for that purpose to farmers and grain growers.

The quantity of bread which can be made available for distribution is limited by the supplies of wheat which can be procured by the mills. The supply position does not permit any increase in the present allowances.

Was not the allowance increased during the month of September?

Yes.

Why not continue the increased allowance during October?

We have not enough wheat to do it.

Bread was so plentiful during September that it was being kicked about.

I think it is probably true that we went a bit far in increasing the allocation in September. It was a considerable risk to take, but I preferred to take that risk rather than have allegations or complaints made that the collection of the harvest was impeded by scarcity of bread. But it must be recognised that by giving that extra allocation in September we have seriously weakened the stock position and cannot afford, under any circumstances, to increase allocations now.