§ 11. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the President of the Board of Trade the price the British Government has contracted to pay Australian farmers for wheat, also the price at present being secured by British farmers; and whether, and in what degree, Australian wheat sells under normal conditions at a higher or lower price in the British markets than the home-grown wheat?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)The British Government have no contract with Australian farmers direct, but in December last 50,000 tons of wheat were bought from the Commonwealth Government. The price fixed included freight and insurance, and it is impossible to say how much will be received by the Australian farmer. The price now being realised for English wheat is about 58s. per quarter of 480 lbs., and under normal conditions Australian wheat sells at from 3s. to 5s. per quarter more, the difference, however, at the present time being considerably greater.