§ 71. Colonel GRETTONasked what is the present price being paid by the Wheat Commission in sterling for wheat from the United States of America delivered at British ports.
§ Mr. McCURDYThe Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies is not at present buying wheat from the United States of America. The price paid for the last purchase of wheat made in January was two dollars fifty-three cents per bushel of 60 lbs. and the sterling cost of the wheat delivered at British ports on the basis of exchange then in operation was 121s. 10d. per quarter of 480 lbs.
§ Mr. RENWICKAre we still buying wheat through the Wheat Commission from the Argentine or Australia or any other colony on behalf of the Government?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have no doubt that the Wheat Commission are buying wheat but I should like notice of this question in order to give a full and proper answer to it.
An HON. MEMBERDoes the hon. Gentleman not think it would be much better to give the British farmer more than 100 shillings for 480 lbs. of wheat than to give the foreigner 120 shillings for 480 lbs. in order that the agricultural labourers could be paid more money. At the present time the wages of agricultural labourers are kept down by the control, and they are much below those of any other workmen on account of the control.