§ 20. Sir NEWTON MOOREasked the President of the Board of Trade whether ho will state the total weight of wheat purchased by the Government in Australia; the weight received; the price paid per bushel to the Australian Government; and the price per bushel paid for wheat purchased elsewhere during the corresponding period?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson)The contracts for the purchase of Australian wheat entered into by His Majesty's Government during the cereal years 1916–17 to 1919–20 amounted to 5,000,000 tons. These contracts were delivered in full subject to an agreed allowance of approximately 58,000 tons for loss sustained owing to damage. The price per bushel averaged 5s. 2d. f.o.b. Australia. The average price per bushel paid for wheat purchased elsewhere during the corresponding period was 9s. 3d. per bushel f.o.b. country of origin.
§ Sir N. MOOREThen that appears to be a complete refutation of the allegation suggested in a question put the other day by one of the hon. Members above the Gangway?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThese are the facts so far as I know them.