§ 34. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Controller recently fixed the price of sulphate of ammonia at £16 a ton, delivered free on rail at any station in the United Kingdom, and that the Kilcoo Cooperative Agricultural Society, county Down, in concert with local merchants, booked their orders for spring delivery so for back as last November at a much higher price than that fixed by the Controller; and whether he can say if the Controller's order has the effect of cancelling the prices in the contracts already entered into?
§ Mr. DUKEI am not aware that the Food Controller fixed a price, as suggested in the question. I am informed, however, that an arrangement has been made with the manufacturers whereby sulphate of ammonia will be sold at £16 per ton net cash, delivered at the nearest railway station in any part of the United Kingdom. This applies to 1-ton lots and upwards containing 24½ per cent of ammonia. For lots containing 25 per cent. of ammonia there will be an additional charge of 6s. 6d. per ton. The price to consumers taking delivery at the makers' works is, I believe, fixed at £15 10s. Whether an existing contract such as is referred to in the question is affected by the arrangement is matter of law.