53. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War whether county distribut- 377 ing committees have ceased to buy hay for the Government; what profits, if any, have accrued from their operations; what stocks of hay are in their hands, and what is to be done with these stocks?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)County distributing (forage) committees still continue to purchase hay for distribution to civilian consumers. No profits can accrue to them from their operations. The stock on the 10th inst. amounted to 125,800 tons, which are being allotted to hay traders for registered customers at approximately 19,350 tons per week.