68. Captain TERRELLasked whether any official estimate exists of the amount of last season's wheat still on the hands of the British farmers?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Board have throughout the War obtained, through their staff of Crop Reporters, periodical estimates of stocks of grain on the farms. The latest return in mid-January indicated that over 5,000,000 quarters of wheat were then in farmers' hands. A further return is being obtained this month.
§ 76. Sir WILLIAM HOWELL DAVIESasked the Food Controller if his attention has been called to the allegation that the Bristol-landed Grain Committee of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies stored last August in the timber yards of Messrs. May and Hassell, Limited, two barge loads of Manitoba flour and a cargo of bran; that the flour has been, and remains, exposed to all weathers, and is wet, heated, and out of condition; and whether such action has been taken as will prevent similar losses of foodstuffs in future?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY OF FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)The Bristol-landed Grain Committee have never stored wheat flour at the place mentioned, and no goods have been stored by them on behalf of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies upon premises liable to exposure to the weather. All goods held for the Government in the Bristol area are regularly inspected by the Landed Grain Committee of the district and are in good condition.