§ 29. Mr. DENMANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the war executive committees will continue to undertake ploughing and other work for farmers in the coming autumn, or whether farmers will be encouraged to cultivate their own increased arable area by being enabled to buy by auction or otherwise a portion of the committees' tractors and other implements?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir R. Winfrey)The greater number of the tractors purchased by the Food Production Department will continue to be operated under the control of the agricultural executive committees, but it is proposed also to release a certain number of tractors and implements for sale to farmers who otherwise would be unable to obtain delivery of new tractors and implements in time for the autumn cultivation.
§ Mr. DENMANCan the hon. Member state when those tractors will be available, and by what means the farmers will be selected who are to have them?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe tractors are now ready—now, at once.
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTWould it not be far better that these tractors should be put under the control of the farmers, so that they might be used under the farmers' own supervision, than that they should be directed from Victoria Street?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThese are for sale, and are in the open market for farmers.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWould it not be better for the whole of these matters, as far as possible, to be put under the direct supervision of the farmers rather than operating them from London?
§ Major E. WOODCan the hon. Member state whether it is proposed to make any statement as to the 1918–19 programme?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the hon. Member at the same time consider the desirability of making some of the supplies of horses which now belong to the Food Production Department available for purchase by farmers, a great many of whom would much prefer to buy horses for their work, owing to the present shortage of horses?
§ Sir R. WINFREYI will consider that.