§ 33 Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) whether he will state the number of officers and men, respectively, in the Army Forage Commission, and what is the annual cost of this Commission; (2) what is the number of officers in the Army Forage Commission engaged in the country in purchasing hay; (3) if he can state the total number of personnel, and separate numbers of officers and men employed in the Army Forage Commission?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe number of officers in the Army Forage Department is 326 and of men 11,003, in addition to which there are 4,503 women. The cost of the Department can best be expressed as 6s. 11d. per ton on the total tonnage handled. There are 173 officers of the Forage Department engaged in the United Kingdom in purchasing hay and other farm produce.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMCan the hon. Gentleman say how many tons have been purchased—he says so much per ton?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid I cannot say, but if my hon. Friend will put down a question I shall be glad to give the information.
§ Mr. LOUGHWill the hon. Gentleman say whether this large staff is required to handle the forage required by the Army or whether it is really engaged in the distribution of forage throughout the country?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is engaged partly on both.
§ Mr. FORSTERYes.
§ 36. Mr. NEEDHAMasked whether the Army authorities control all the hay produced in the country; and what percentage of the total crops of 1917 has been reserved for Army uses?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Out of the total crop of about 11,000,000 tons, 9,000,000 are consumed by the growers; and the Army requires about one-half of the balance.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMAre we to understand that this very large staff referred to has been handling about 1,000,000 tons of hay per year?
§ Mr. FORSTERAs I have already explained, they are largely concerned with the distribution of the second 1,000,000 tons required for civilian consumption. The activities of the Forage Department are not confined exclusively to hay.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great disaffection in regard to the civilian distribution of hay, and that the country is suffering very badly in consequence of the defective distribution of hay?
§ Mr. FORSTERI know that there is a great deal of interest taken in the Regulations and in the general system of control which is exercised by the Forage Department, and I think it would be a very good plan if hon. Members of the House, who I know are genuinely interested in this matter, were to meet General Morgan, who is in charge of the Department, and learn from him at first hand and discuss with him the arrangements for the control of this year's hay crop. If they would care to meet General Morgan, I shall be very glad to arrange it.
§ Mr. LOUGHWill the right hon. Gentleman say, having regard to the very small proportion of this produce required by the Army, if he does not think that it would be better for his officers to devote their efforts to military work rather than to this distribution?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir.
§ 42. Major WHELERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the hay crop of 1918 is to be taken over on 30th September by the Army authorities at £6 10s. per ton; whether, when the amounts needed for the Army and the growers have been allocated, it is proposed to sell the surplus to hay traders at the same price, namely, £6 10s. per ton; if so, what will be the price at which the dealers will be allowed to sell the hay; and whether he will consider the advisability of allowing growers to sell any surplus hay direct to consumers?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe terms and conditions for acquiring and controlling the 1918 hay crop have not yet been settled beyond the published fact that the maxi mum price will not be less than £6 10s. per ton. At the present time growers are able to sell direct to consumers.