§ 69. Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average price of wheat in France in the year 1908, as compared with the average imported price in England; and what was the duty in force in France in the same year?
Mr. BUXTONI will circulate with the Votes the figures asked for, together with similar figures for a series of years. Nineteen hundred and eight was an abnormal year, inasmuch as the French harvest of the previous year was the largest and the imports in 1908 the smallest in the last thirty years. The imports in 1908 were, in fact, less than 1 per cent, of the ordinary consumption. [See Written Answers this date.]
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEDoes not the fact that the price per quarter of wheat in France was only 12s. 5d., whereas the duty was 12s. 2d. more than this country, show that the theory that the duty is always added to the price is not quite the fact?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for argument.