asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the difficulty of retailers in procuring supplies of bone and fish meal from wholesalers; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware that some retailers have difficulty in procuring supplies of meat and bone meal and fish meal. The position is that there is no official control over the distribution of these materials and manufacturers are free to make whatever arrangements they consider most suitable. The home production of meat and bone meal and fish meal is not sufficient to meet present requirements and licences for the importation of these commodities are being issued subject to suitable veterinary safeguards.

I may add that a number of manufacturers of compound feeding stuffs have been licensed to manufacture high protein balancer meals suitable for use by farmers who feed their own grain to live stock.

Is the Minister aware that it is quite useless asking farmers to feed their own produce from the farm if they cannot get protein foods?

As I indicated, they are not producing the full requirements.

Is the Minister aware that the millers are getting all the protein produced and are selling it as an expensive compound ration?

I am not so aware.