§ 72. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that the War Office purchased 26 tons of hay of the 1918 crop on 7th December, 1918, at Hatfield, Hereford; that this hay was transferred on 16th December to Civil Supplies, Hereford, by the War Office, and on 14th June, 1919, was allotted by Mr. Charles Franklin, the secretary, to Messrs. Franklin, Barnes and Company, of Hereford; whether he is aware that the purchase of this hay has not been completed and the hay has not been removed; and what steps the Board of Agriculture will take to see that the farmer will be compensated for loss of interest and loss of bulk?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to reply to this question. I am aware that in some cases delivery of hay purchased by the Army has not yet been taken. In such cases interest on the amount of the purchase price outstanding is paid to the farmer.
§ 73. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the 1018 crop of hay was bought under the Defence of the Realm Act at £8 per ton; and whether such hay, if the purchase is not completed and if the stacks are not removed, may be restored to the seller?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to answer this question. The 1918 hay crop was purchased under the powers conferred by the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the maximum price being £8 per ton. All hay purchased for the Army is required, and I regret, therefore, that the suggestion in the last part of the question is not practicable.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTIs it not the fact that the interest granted on this money is very small indeed compared with what the farmer, in the normal course of business could turn over if he were allowed to dispose of the hay?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman asked me a supplementary question in regard to the rate of interest. I have looked into the matter, and find that I understated it very substantially.