§ 12. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade what per- 549 centage of the 1917 crop of hay was allocated for the use of horses employed in town and transport work?
Sir A. STANLEYNo specific quantity of hay of the 1917 crop was allotted for the use of horses in town and transport work. The hay required for such horses is about one-seventh of the total crop
§ Mr. NEEDHAMCan my right hon. Friend say what was the total crop of hay bought in 1017?
§ 13. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the complaints of the poor condition of horses employed in town work and that this condition is due to shortage of supply of hay; whether he can state the reason for the shortage of supply in view of the ample quantity of hay in the country; and what action is being taken by him?
Sir A. STANLEYComplaints of the poor condition of the horses employed in town work have been received, and it is considered that such condition is due largely to the shortage in the supply of hay. The whole question is being considered in conjunction with the War Office and the Board of Agriculture, but from the best information obtainable it is feared that until the new crop of hay is available there will be a shortage of hay in the country.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is a very pressing matter, and that quite recently there was a large meeting of owners of horses in Manchester to consider whether they should continue to work their horses owing to the bad condition they are in, this being due in the opinion of the meeting to the shortage of hay?
§ Sir HENRY HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that contractors in London doing Government work and engaged on carrying foodstuffs are unable to obtain an adequate and regular supply of hay for their horses?
Sir A. STANLEYI am quite aware of the pressing importance of the matter, and we are trying to find some solution if we can.
§ Mr. LOUGHHas the whole of the control exercised in this matter by the Board of Trade been handed over to the War Office?
Sir A. STANLEYThe Board of Trade has no control over the hay; it is in the hands of the War Office.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMWhat recommendation has been made by the Board of Trade or the War Office in regard to horses working in civil employment on this question of shortage of hay, which is really a, serious and pressing matter?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that large quantities of hay of last year's crop requisitioned by the War Office were never even taken by them?
Sir A. STANLEYIt is a matter which is under the consideration, I think, of the War Office and the Board of Trade.
§ 38. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that civilians in London and country districts are unable to obtain hay for the feeding of horses; whether the war authorities have commandeered all existing stores of hay; whether farmers are at liberty to sell any for the use of civilians, many of whom are engaged on work of national importance: and whether the military authorities have already obtained, or have the promise of acquiring, supplies of hay greatly in excess of their requirements?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)Civil consumers have recently experienced difficulty in obtaining their full requirements but, so far as is known, no one has failed to do so. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative and the third in the affirmative. As regards the last part my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. A great deal more hay than has yet been purchased will be required by the military authorities before the next crop is ready for shipment.
§ Sir ARTHUR FELLWhat steps are being taken to enable job masters to get hay? They are entirely without it at present. Surely there is hay in the country?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere is a scheme for enabling consumers to get the hay they require. I have arranged that a memorandum shall be prepared, and I. am willing to circulate it to Members of the, House, in order that they may see exactly what the scheme consists of. A portion of it has already been published in the Press, and that has been reproduced in pamphlet 551 form. I am having that pamphlet amplified, and I hope that will make the position quite clear
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTIs my hon. Friend aware that the military authorities have earmarked practically the whole of the hay in the country, and if they require further supplies where are they to come from?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is quite true that the military authorities have taken possession of all the crop. The British crop consists of about 11,000,000 tons, of which 9,000,000 tons is consumed by the growers, leaving a balance of some 2.000.000 tons. Military requirements call for about half that is, 1,000,000 tons a year. As I indicated in my answer, the whole of that 1,000,000 tons has not yet been taken up.
41. CaptainWRIGHTasked the Financial Secretary at the War Office whether he is aware that there is a shortage of hay in the dairying districts and difficulty in buying it owing to the general ignorance as to what are the Regulations now affecting its release, sale, and purchase, and whether it can be bought through the Allotment Committee only at their price, and on payment of us a ton to that Committee, even though the purchaser finds his own vendor and no services are rendered by the Committee; and if he will issue a short statement making clear the position now and after 30th September next?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere is undoubtedly a shortage of hay in some, districts, and the main object of appointing the Allotment Committees is to equalise and expedite the distribution of available supplies throughout the country. The ignorance referred to is gradually disappearing as the result of an exhaustive notice which appeared in the London and Provincial Press on March 29th. which has since been reproduced in pamphlet form I shall be glad to send my hon. Friend a copy. This explains that it is only when a producer avails himself of the prices and conditions granted to bay traders that he is called upon to contribute to the general expenses of administering the scheme. The position subsequent to September 30th cannot be stated until the volume of the 1918 crop is known and the terms and conditions governing the crop have been decided upon.
§ Captain WRIGHTCan a farmer buy from his neighbour surplus hay which is 552 not wanted for the Army without going to the Committee and paying the 5s. per ton?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am informed that the only case in which a consumer has to pay the 5s. a ton is when he employs a dealer in the transaction.
§ Captain WRIGHTIs not the 5s. payable only in the case where the vendor cuts, ties and delivers the hay to the purchaser and so does the work of a dealer?
§ Mr. FORSTERIn all probability that is so. You have to apply to the Allotment Committee.