§ 73. Major COURTHOPEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board propose to contract with farmers for the growing of flax next year, in view of the fact that the Board's flax undertaking is advertised for sale; and, if so, on what terms?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIn order to preserve the goodwill of the Board's flax factories and their products (whether the factories are in future carried on by the Board or by private enterprise), the Board propose to contract, if possible, for 5,000 acres of flax to be grown in 1920. The price offered will be £13 per ton, with a possible bonus of per ton at the Board's discretion, for flax of exceptionally high quality, seed to be provided free. Purchasers of the factories will be required to take over these contracts, as indicated in the advertisements which have appeared.