§ 8. Mr. W. THORNEasked the-President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official information showing that there was an increase on the granary stocks on 1st September of 1,450,000 quarters, and that millers have laid in an extra million quarters and are unusually well stocked at the mill; and, if so, whether he will address a circular to the trade indicating that such a course is in contravention of the Act against withholding food supplies, directing, under threat of proceedings,, that such withheld supplies be at once placed on the market, and warning millers against such practices in future?
§ Sir H. VERNEYFrom the returns collected periodically by the Board of all stocks held in the United Kingdom, it appears that the quantity held in port granaries on the 1st February was about 4 percent, less than on the 1st September. Stocks held by millers were rather more on the 1st February than on the 1st September, but slightly less than on the 1st January. The Board are keeping the whole position under close observation, and there is no reason to believe that stocks are being held other than in the normal course of trade.
§ 9. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been directed to a monthly report of the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Limited, of Nelson's Wharf, Lambeth, dated 12th February, 1915, in which, after recording large arrivals of frozen meat from New Zealand during the past month, the report states that a distinct improvement in demand for mutton has arisen in the last few weeks, and that as disturbance in freight arrangements is likely to interfere with future supplies some slight restriction has to be placed on the output for the time being; whether he will cause inquiries to be made with all importers of New Zealand frozen, meat and at all London refrigerators, asking for a return of stocks on hand on each of the last four Monday mornings; whether he will direct the attention of all such importers to the Act of Parliament dealing with the withholding of food supplies; and whether, in view of the advancing price of frozen beef, mutton, and lamb, he will fix as a maximum the remunerative 369 price of these goods officially quoted in the "Meat Trades Journal and Times" for Friday, 1st January, 1915?
Mr. ROBERTSONMy hon. Friend states correctly that the arrivals of frozen meat from New Zealand have increased recently. The imports of refrigerated beef and mutton from all sources were, however, substantially less in January last than in the previous month or in January of last year, and the decrease of import has been continued in February. Some disorganisation of the shipping services between New Zealand and this country has occurred, but this will, I hope, be reduced or removed as a result of the endeavours which are being made to improve the situation. Particulars are already obtained fortnightly regarding stocks of meat in cold stores, and the movement of stocks is being closely watched. I have no doubt that the importers and others interested are already aware of the provisions of the Act to which my hon. Friend refers respecting the withholding of food supplies. No evidence has come to the knowledge of the Board of Trade that there is any such withholding in the case of meat, but if my hon. Friend has any information on the subject I shall be glad to consider it. As at present advised, I do not think that the adoption of the course suggested in the last part of the question would conduce to the desired result.
§ 33. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the rise in the cost of food amounts to between 20 and 24 per cent., he will consider the advisability of increasing the wages of all Government workmen to the same extent so that their real wages may have the same purchasing power as they had in July, 1914, prior to the outbreak of war?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot accept without reserve the figures given by the hon. Member. The question of an increase in wages to Government workmen in consideration of the rise in juices in the present emergency is receiving the attention of the Government, who are taking the advice of the Arbitration Committee whose appointment was announced on Monday last.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that he will find these figures in his speech in this House a few days ago?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think not.