70. Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the Food Controller whether, his attention has been called to the announcement that his Department will purchase the exportable supply of Canadian cheese in the present season; whether this is the case and, in that event, what price has been agreed on; whether there are any other commodities which, despite the ending of the War, are still being purchased by any of the Departments of the Ministry of Food; and whether, in that case, he will give the reasons for this policy?
Mr. ROBERTSThe announcement referred to in the first part of the question is untrue. The Ministry of Food do not propose to purchase the exportable supply of Canadian cheese in the present season, but will leave private traders to import this cheese on their own account. As regards the latter part of the question, apart from cereals, sugar and butter, the Food Controller has for some months ceased from making fresh purchases, with the exception of those to which he was committed in order to complete general arrangements made during the War.
Mr. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that most precise statements have been made in Canada to the effect that a cable had been received at Ottawa from the British Ministry and that it was sent out on the authority of Reuter's Agency?
Mr. ROBERTSI have no information of the circulation of the item in Canada. I had observed it myself in certain papers and made my own inquiries and found it contrary to the facts.