§ 83. Sir JOHN SPEARasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will cause a statement from farmers as to the persons to whom they have been in the habit of selling their wool, so that such persons may be engaged by the Government in any transaction the Government make in acquiring wool and so maintaining continuance of trading conditions?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is proposed to obtain returns from the farmers, which will include information as to the method by which he disposed of his wool last year, in order that the Government may, so far as possible, make use of the normal trade channels of collection.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill the hon. Gentleman try and arrange that the farmers and not the Government get the benefit of any profit from the sale of wool which is not suitable for Government purposes?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe arrangements for disposing of wool not suitable for military requirements is still under consideration, and I cannot give any pledge regarding it.
§ 93. Mr. PERCY HARRIS (Leicester, Harborough)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, on what basis it has been decided to fix 30 per cent, above average prices as the Government purchase figure for wool from English farmers; and whether the increased prices of labour and feeding-stuffs were considered in fixing this price?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe percentage addition of 30 per cent. has been arrived at after careful examination of the price of wool during the last ten or twelve years, the various market conditions which have inflated the price of wool in the open market and among other things the increased cost to the farmer of what he buys. The answer to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the same limitation of price imposed on Colonial farmers—on wool coming from the Colonies; and, if not, is this a form of Colonial preference?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe prices referred to are those payable to the British farmer and not to the Colonial.
§ 96. Mr. J. HILLasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that a large percentage of English wool is unsuitable for Army and Navy purposes, whether he can say how long this wool will be held up; whether it will be until after the Army Council has utilised all suitable wool; and whether he will consider the desirability of releasing the wool unsuitable for military purposes so that the manufacturers may be put to as little inconvenience as possible and serious disturbance in trade be prevented?
§ Mr. FORSTERAny-part of the wool acquired by the Army Council which proves to be unsuitable for naval and military purposes will be disposed of at the earliest opportunity.