§ 89. Mr. ANDERSONasked whether the purchase of horses and forage for the War Office is still being made through county committees of farmers; whether these committees fix maximum prices for the commodities required; whether this method in practice has tended to avoid the excessive prices paid for horses and forage in the early days of the War; and whether he will consider the possibility of increasing the value and vigilance of the committee by a widening of the personnel, seeing that the farmers are at once the buyers and sellers?
Mr. BAKERForage for the Army is bought by district purchasing officers, who are advised on the question of prices by county committees of farmers. Produce has been obtained at its fair market 839 value, and excessive prices have been avoided. No horses have been purchased through county committees.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYHas the hon. Member any objection to telling us what prices they are paying for horses?