BACON INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 27, 31 July 1937, Page 13

BACON INDUSTRY

DIFFICULTIES IN BRITAIN

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

PROPOSED

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, July 29,

Early publication of proposals for the milk industry which will, require legislation, and of a statement on the poultry industry were promised by the Minister oC Agriculture, Mr. W. S. Morrison, when he told the House of Commons at question time that the Government had given careful consideration to the difficulties of the bacon industry which appeared to be attributable in part to the increase of pig-feeding costs and in part to the high costs of bacon manufacture in the United Kingdom. They believed that if the industry were founded on a small number of efficient factories provided with adequate and regular supplies of pigs of good quality and conformation, .sufficient economies could be secured in the cost,of curing to enable the industry to be maintained during the period of high feeding costs. The Government accordingly would be willing to propose that some assistance should be accorded to the industry over a sufficient period to enable a contract system for the supply of bacon pigs to be re-established if they were assured that reorganisation of bacon factories would so proceed as to hold promise of reduction in curing costs which would enable both producers and curers to work at a profit. The Government desired to give further consideration, in consultation with the industry, to the nature of the changes required and to the form they should take, with a view to laying, detailed proposals before Parliament as early as possible. Meanwhile the present arrangements for the regulation of imports would continue.