§ 78. Major MORGANasked the Minister of Food as to the quantity of flour stored at the Assembly Hall, Ferndale, in the month of September, 1919, 765 what amount of it has been returned to the millers to be re-conditioned; the cost of transit to and from the mills; the amount of flour that still remains in this unsuitable building; and the total cost paid in rental up to date; and is he aware that the contractors have been waiting for some months to commence alterations and repairs so that the building may be handed over for the use of ex-service men?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe flour stored at the Assembly Hall, Ferndale, was placed there not in September, 1919, as stated in the question, but in March, 1920. The whole of the flour, amounting to about 213 tons has been returned to the mills and no flour now remains in the building. The cost of transit to and from the mills totalled £298 0s. 7d. In July last the owners of the hall, which was lent to the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies free of all rental charge, suggested that the hall might be wanted for the use of ex-service men, and arrangements were immediately made for part of the hall to be available for this purpose; since then no further communication on this subject has been received from the owners.
§ 80. Mr. WATERSONasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of statements frequently made that Chinese flour held by the Government is unfit for human consumption, he is prepared to call in an impartial analyst to test the present stock held by the Ministry; and, if not, what steps he is prepared to take so that any possible danger to public health be avoided?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Dr. Addison)I have been asked to reply to this question. I have recently had samples of this flour examined by the Government Chemist and by the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. I am satisfied from their reports that the flour is of good quality, and that its use does not involve any danger to public health.