BRITAIN’S BACON SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1936, Page 5

BRITAIN’S BACON SHORTAGE

. BOARD CANCELS CONTRACTS [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS] RUGBY, December 18. Because of the failure of farmers to contract for the number of bacon pigs required by curers next year a difficulty has arisen in the operation of one of the principal agricultural marketing schemes, and the Bacon Marketing Board has cancelled, in exercise of its right, all contracts for 1937 already entered into. A statement issued to-night by the Ministry for Agriculture says the situation thus created will require consideration, both as to the future organisation of the Home industry, and the regulation of bacon imports. , Foreign bacon allocations have already ' been fixed for the first six weeks of 1937, and it is not proposed to make any alteration to these arrangements. Afterwards, while the position of the pig and bacon marketing schemes is under examination, imports will continue to be regulated provisionally, with due regard to the supply situation. It will be the object of this examination to devise machinery with a view to avoiding the difficulties which 'have been experienced in the past, and have led to the action taken by the Bacon Marketing Board on the present occasion.