§ 38. Mr. FELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if the mills employed in the polishing of rice have now been closed or put to some useful work; if the polishing of the grains of rice is never practised in those countries where rice forms the staple food of the people; and if the polishing is only done for the purpose of adding a lustre to the rice and rendering it more attractive to persons ignorant of the fact that the value of the rice as food is greatly diminished?
Captain BATHURSTI understand that the number of mills in this country where rice is polished is very limited and that at practically all of them rice is also ground. I agree that the polishing of rice at the present time is to be deprecated as involving an unnecessary employment of labour and the removal of much of the nutritious properties of the grain.
§ Mr. FELLWould it not be possible very easily to stop the polishing of rice and release the labour?
Captain BATHURSTIt is done on so small a scale at present. It was done in pre-war times simply because the attractive appearance appealed to the public.