§ MR. HICKSasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can state the number of quarters of British barley returned as having been sold in the week ending March 1st 1884 at and below 32s. a quarter, the number of quarters returned as having been sold above 32s. a quarter and not exceeding 378 40s. and the number of quarters returned as having been sold at a price exceeding 40s. a quarter; and, whether he can state the lowest and the highest price per quarter of British barley returned in the week ending March 1st 1884?
§ MR. J. HOLMSIn order to obtain the information asked for by the hon. Member, the Board of Trade would have to communicate with their officers at the 187 towns at which the prices of corn are collected, and some of these officers would have to examine a large number of Returns. The process will be laborious and costly, and ought not, I think, to be undertaken unless there is some important public object to serve. Perhaps, therefore, the hon. Member would be good enough to call at the Office of the Board of Trade, when it may be found possible to supply the information he desires in some other form.