§ 58. Captain Sir BEVILLE STANIERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the 1065 Board of Agriculture whether he can now state the manner in which the undertaking given by the President of the Board of Agriculture, on 19th November last, with regard to prices for cereals for 1919 crops will be carried out?
Sir A. COSCAWENThe prices guaranteed by the Government for 1919 grain crops are as follows:
The guarantee applies to the proportion of the entire produce of each cereal normally sold, and not in respect of the proportion consumed on the farm.
- (1) Wheat, 71s. 11d. per qr. of 480 lbs. (or 75s. 6d. per qr. of 504 lbs).
- (2) Barley, 61s. 6d. per qr. of 400 lbs. (or 68s. 10½d. per qr. of 448 lbs).
- (3) Oats, 44s. 1d. per qr. of 312 lbs. (or 47s. 6d. per qr. of 336 lbs.).
It has been decided to give effect to these guarantees by means of the machinery of Part I. of the Corn Production Act, 1917. This involves payment to growers of any difference between "average prices" and "guaranteed prices," on the basis of a yield per acre of 4 qrs. of wheat, 4 qrs. of barley, and 5 qrs. of oats, respectively.
It has been decided to take four-fifths in the case of barley and two-thirds in the case of oats as the proportion normally sold. The grower of wheat will therefore be paid for each acre four times the difference between 71s. 11d. and the average market price ascertained for the seven months commencing 1st September, 1919. The grower of barley will receive for each acre four times four-fifths of the difference between 61s. 6d. and the average price of barley similarly determined. The grower of oats will receive for each acre five times two-thirds of the difference between 44s. 1d. and the average price of oats similarly determined.
These guarantees are subject to the provisions of Clause 1 (b) of the Corn Production Act, 1917, which deal with negligent cultivation.
§ Mr. FITZROYIn view of the fact that of all cereals rye has to be sold earlier than any others, and in view of the fact that it was grown largely under the order of the Food Controller and made a standard part of war bread, will the Board include rye in the guaranteed price?
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEAre the Government going to take the crop themselves?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo; we do not propose to take over the crop. What we propose to do is to apply the machinery of the Corn Production Act and pay the difference between the average price and the guaranteed price.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEHas not the machinery of the Corn Production Act broken down this year?
Major WOODIn view of the statement made, what steps will be taken by the Government to make these prices effective in the way of finding markets, if the market does not exist?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo; we cannot give any guarantee to find a market, and no such statement was made. What we do is to give the difference between the guaranteed price and the average price.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIf there is no sale, how can there be a market?
Sir A. BOSCAWENOf course there would be a sale. Does the hon. Gentleman think there has ever been a year when there has been no sale?
§ Major WHELERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time in many cases wheat has not been able to be sold?