4. The representatives of the fanners took the view that the prices fixed in the November 11th schedule must now be regarded as out of date in the light of "altered circumstances", by which they meant primarily the increased cost of bringing livestock to a fat state owing both to the increased cost of feeding-stuffs (in spite of alleged control of feeding-stuff prices) and to irregularity in supplies. The farmers, therefore, claimed that if the November 11th schedule (covering prices in November and December) had been negotiated at the present time various increases would have been made in the prices.