§ 72. Mr. ELLIS DAVIESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that farmers in Carnarvonshire are being put to inconvenience and expense owing to the fact that the wool clip when acquired for the Government is not paid for at once; and whether, in view of the fact that the price of the wool clip is generally allocated to meet the rent, he will give instructions that the price be paid on delivery of the wool?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries are being made as to whether there is any undue delay in making payment for wool in Carnarvonshire. In the meantime I shall be glad if the hon. Member will give me particulars of any individual cases in which farmers have been put to inconvenience by delays in payment for wool already delivered.
§ Mr. DAVIESDoes the hon. Gentleman merely want particulars of inconvenience?
§ Mr. FORSTERI want particulars so that I may see where the delay occurs. So far as I know, farmers have been very free in expressing their gratification at the prompt payment they have received where the wool has been delivered. That is the general rule. If there have been cases of delay in payment I would like to hunt them up.
§ Colonel GRETTONWill the hon. Gentleman consider cases other than those in Carnarvonshire?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes.
§ 74. Mr. DAVIESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is 946 aware that where a farmer sells his wool clip to the merchant with whom he hitherto dealt the wool is subsequently revalued by a Government agent, and the difference, if any, between the valuation and the price paid is claimed by the Government; whether such difference is to be repaid to the farmer who in the peculiar circumstances in which he is placed accepted too little for his wool clip, or whether the money is to be used to pay the expenses of administering the Order?
§ Mr. FORSTERI do not fully understand the question the hon. Member desires to put to me, and I should be glad to arrange an interview to discuss the points to which he desires to draw my attention.
§ 75. Mr. DAVIESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, where merchants are permitted to buy wool for their own purpose, they fix the price for the wool, which the farmer must accept as he is not free to sell to others; and whether, in view of the disadvantage to which the farmer is subjected, he will allow the farmer to sell either to the Government or to the manufacturer at his option?
§ Mr. FORSTERMerchants are not permitted to buy wool for their own purposes, so I presume the hon. Member refers to manufacturers in the first part of his question. Certain small manufacturers in Wales are permitted, under licence, to buy wool at the prices fixed by the Government under conditions which prevent them making any profit from the fact that the fixed prices may be less than market prices. They are not free to fix their own price, and the farmers are under no obligation to sell to them. If the farmers so desire, they can apply to the district executive officer to have their wool allocated to an authorised merchant, who will value and take delivery on behalf of the Department.
§ Mr. DAVIESAre the farmers compelled to sell merely to the person who is nominated by the Government?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo; they can sell as they do at present, to the manufacturer who has a licence to buy if they wish. If they do not wish to do that, or if they cannot agree on terms with the manufacturer, they can claim to sell to the: Government direct.